Puentevella: There was a lack of communication

By Jerome S. Galunan, Jr.

After Asian Games gold medal-winning weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, who also earned a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, penned a letter to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) expressing her dismay with current leadership of the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas, which is currently led by former Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella, a meeting was held last Thursday where her concerns were resolved.

“We just [had] a lack of communication,” Puentevella said. “Coach Tony Agustin had two hours with Hidilyn and I had almost an hour with her to talk things over.”

“She realized that I have the best of intentions,” he explained. “She was grateful.”

Earlier, PSC Chairman William Ramirez previously called on the former Bacolod City lone district congressman to contact the champion weightlifter.

“I called up former Congressman Puentevella and told him that it [was] urgent for him to talk to her and possibly agree on a resolution,” he said./JSG, WDJ