MANILA – After giving up the chairmanship of the Philippine Sports Commission, William "Butch" Ramirez is not totally leaving sports as he accepted his election as vice chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

“I will still be involving myself in Philippine sports and in fact, my vision is to be part of 'Go for gold' in the 2012 London Olympics,” Ramirez said.

He accepted the nomination after receiving a call Wednesday from Malacañang that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has already accepted his resignation as head of the PSC.

“It’s an honor to work with corporate people,” Ramirez said, referring to ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan who announced Thursday the pledge of PLDT and Smart to give P12 million to a boxing gold winner in the London Olympics.

“I think boxing is very lucky to have Mr. Pangilinan who also put up a regional training center just to make sure that our boxers are ready to end our quest for the first Olympic gold medal,” Ramirez added.

Aside from boxing, Ramirez will also serve as sports program coordinator of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City, his hometown, and committed to pursue the Mindanao Sports for Peace project which aims to serves children affected by war in Mindanao.

“I will still be busy and I will be using my 10-year experience in the PSC as regional coordinator, commissioner and chairman in all my projects in Mindanao because I will also be teaching in the Ateneo de Davao,” Ramirez said.

Ramirez thanked President Arroyo for the trust and confidence she has given to him in the last four years of serving as PSC chairman.

“It’s really a great privilege and honor that I have worked with the President and 101 percent, I'm very happy that I performed my job to the best of my abilities,” he said.

The resignation of Ramirez stunned the sports community including the Athletes and Coaches Association of the Philippines which even appealed to President to reconsider her acceptance of the PSC chief’s resignation.

“We respect the decision of Malacañang, but we appeal for reconsideration since replacing him (Ramirez) at this point in time is unnecessary. Actually, we’re just earning the benefits of his pro-athletes programs including the creation of the sports institute,” ACAP president Arniel Ferreira, Southeast Asian Games record holder, said.*PNA

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