Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Tonyboy Liao and members of the board during a press conference on February 24, 2026. PNVF photo
MANILA -- The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has officially suspended the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), POC President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino announced on Wednesday.
The move was formalized during the POC's Executive Board meeting earlier this week.
It comes after the PNVF was suspended by FIVB, the international governing body for volleyball, last May 29 due to "serious governance concerns and multiple purported violations of the FIVB Code of Ethics."
"The suspension comes automatically from the international federation’s suspension of its national federation," said Tolentino, who said the suspension was unanimously voted upon during the board meeting held at the Solaire Resort Hotel Monday in Parañaque City.
READ: FIVB suspends PNVF for 'serious governance concerns,' alleged violations of Code of Ethics
The Philippine Sports Commission had already suspended all funding options for the PNVF ahead of the FIVB sanction—a decision the government sports body hinged also on governance and non-compliance with its policy on granting financial assistance to national sports associations.
Despite their suspension, the PNVF exercised its political privilege of removing Tonyboy Liao as president and replacing him with sportsman-businessman Frank Lao, along with the group’s other executive board members two weeks ago.
However, Tolentino stressed that this exercise was invalid because of the existing FIVB suspension.
"Their latest election, for the POC, is invalid—no notice to the POC and no observer from the POC," Tolentino said.
While suspended, the PNVF cannot attend all POC functions, including the General Assembly.
Tolentino said the POC is also awaiting the FIVB decision from the Ad Hoc Committee it formed to oversee the sport while the national federation is suspended.
Present during the board meeting were secretary-general Atty. Wharton R. Chan, second vice president Rep. Richard Gomez, treasurer Dr. Jose Raul Canlas, auditor Jose Donaldo Caringal, Athletes Commission representative Jessie Khing Lacuna and board members Ferdinand Agustin, Leonora, Escollante, Alexander Sulit and Alvin Aguilar.