Obiena and PATAFA have been in hot tension over the past weeks as the latter allegedly accused the former of falsification of liquidation documents and failure to pay his coach.

The attacks being made to the 26-year-old, Obiena pushed him from thinking to stop representing the country and retiring early from pole vaulting. 

However, since other countries are lining up to get Obiena as shared by Lafferty in an interview with ONE Sports’ Gretchen Ho, anything is possible. 

“A number of countries are looking at this situation and laughing uncontrollably at how the Philippines is driving away a world class athlete they can offer a passport to,” Lafferty said.

“Long before this happened, there was already a line of people at his door to offer him a passport,” he added.

While both Obiena and coach Vitaly Petrov denied allegations made by PATAFA, calling such actions as “character assassination” and “slander”, the Philippine Sports Commission has been investigating the matter.

Lafferty stands firm that the great heights achieved by Obiena over a short period of time and ranking fifth in the world would easily attract other countries and would want him. 

“He’s the hottest thing in track and field because he’s gone from no. 30 to no. 10 to no. 8 to no. 5. Multiple, it’s not one [but] it’s multiple [offers],” he said.