Complaints on sexual misconduct triggers debate in the Philippines

A delicate case on sexual harassment in Philippine football involving the daughter of a former president has raised local questions about the culture surrounding the national team and what some see as the football federation’s inadequate response. 

A complaint filed by an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Match Commissioner, Christina M. Ramos, against two members of the national football team for sexual harassment has provoked a debate on the culture surrounding the otherwise celebrated national team, also known as the Azkals, and its intense media coverage. Thus, the case itself also has a touch of celebrity as Ms. Ramos is not only former president of the Philippine Olympic Committee but also the daughter of the former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos. 

According to the complaint that is being investigated by the national football federation’s disciplinary committee, one player allegedly asked about her breast size while the other posed in front of her wearing only his underwear as she was performing her duties as match commissioner checking accreditation cards and kits. Ramos filed her complaint asking the involved players to be punished for what she perceived as highly offensive behaviour.

The episode took place before a friendly match against Malaysia in late February, but so far the complaint has not led to any decision leaving room for journalists, prominent politicians and advocates for women’s rights to comment on the case. 

“The arrogance of certain Azkals, who think they can abuse a Filipino woman just because of their newfound popularity, has been condemned by well-meaning quarters. There is no question that the Azkals, composed mostly of Filipino players with foreign blood, have resurrected football, a sport once virtually ignored hereabouts. But this does not give them a license to ruthlessly trample upon the rights and hospitality of their ‘adopted’ country,” wrote the sport columnist Manolo R. Iñigo from the Philippine newspaper, The Inquirer.

Federation should take a firmer stand
The reporter, Eric Dimzon, goes a step further linking the case to last summer’s more severe allegations against four members of the national team who were mentioned in connection to an alleged rape of a model. An incident, Dimzon himself wrote about. 

The alleged abuse was never reported to the local police or investigated by the authorities, but he still thinks the team and its federation should take a much firmer stand.

“After being hounded by rape and sexual harassment allegations in a span of less than a year, you would think that the Philippine National Football Team would get its act together and behave properly,” he says in a comment to Play the Game.

“In the midst of the controversies hounding the Philippine Azkals, the Philippine Football Federation has not taken certain drastic measures to somehow put a stop to the highly controversial and offensive ways of the national football players. The PFF has not even issued a stern warning to the players who seem to exhibit a pattern of bad behaviour. As a result, the bad behaviour with its accompanying controversies continues to exist and follow the Philippine Azkals,” he argues.

Deny any wrongdoing
In both cases, the team and involved players have denied any wrongdoing calling the latest episode a misunderstanding caused by innocent joking among the players themselves, and some of the players have complained that team members with foreign background were put into the spotlight.

On the other hand, there has according to newspaper columnist Nini Cabaero, also been a reluctance to cover the Ramos incident in certain media.

“One view pushed for media to continue to cover the issue until its conclusion. The other position was for media to go slow considering the Azkals are not exactly your ordinary players and they have a following among adoring fans,” Cabaero wrote in a comment piece concluding that the complaint couldn’t be downplayed or ignored.

In any case, sexual abuse or harassment in subcultures of elite sports cultures seem to have climbed up the agenda in several countries. 

Lately a number of cases in ice hockey and American football have come to light sparking harsh criticism, and in Australia the National Rugby League even felt it necessary to introduce an educational programme teaching elite players to behave properly after several episodes of sexually offensive behaviour were reported.

Read Manolo R. Iñigo’s comment

Read Nini Cabaero’s comment