Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping on Wednesday said the protest action staged by a small group of athletes two days ago would not deter him from his mission to cleanse Philippine sports of misfits and racketeers.

“These protests happen while the PSC is trying its best to improve the working conditions and welfare of athletes and coaches,” said Angping in a text message from China.

Angping branded as lies the charges and allegations hurled against him by the group identified with the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP).

The WAP staged a lightning rally just hours after filing graft charges before the Ombudsman in connection with the country’s hosting of the Asian Junior wrestling championships last July.

Angping has been accused of grave coercion, malversation of public funds and graft for providing substandard services to athletes and guests. The complaint also claimed that the PSC chairman demanded to collect the tournament fees paid to the WAP by foreign teams.

“How can they charge me with malversation of funds,” Angping asked. “Do they have a copy of all disbursements in PSC? It should be the auditor who should charge me, if any.”

On the contrary, Angping said it is WAP that owes PSC.

Paul de Vega, Angping’s legal counsel, said they will answer the charges point by point, in the proper time, in the proper forum.

Angping dismissed the rally as the handiwork of detractors.

“We have in our midst people who call themselves ‘saviors’ of sports. They use innocent people and paid rallyists to demand unreasonable things. It’s very sad,” he said.

Except for women’s billiards champion Rubilen Amit, not a single athlete of note was present during the rally.

“Basically, it’s just the wrestling group,” said Angping.

Since assuming his post, Angping has undertaken various reforms to improve the lot of athletes and targeted national sports associations with ghost athletes and coaches.

Angping said he would disband the national pool after the Southeast Asian Games and would make sure that only those deserving would remain in the pool.

The PSC chief also took a hardline stance against sending a bloated delegation in the Asian Indoor Games in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

From the 153-man team recommended by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for the Indoor Games, Angping cut the number to less than 30.