Division...

“Today, 27 NSAs signed petitions mainly supporting the elections that will happen this Friday. They really feel the need for change in the POC.

Carrion, who used to be aligned with Cojuangco, was likewise vocal.

I supported Peping all the way. But when I became CDM, and then saw all the things that what they’re doing… it’s so embarrassing,” said Carrion.

“The things they do that are against the Olympic charter. They don’t follow the Olympic charter,” she added.

“I am appalled with the way they’re running things as if they can do what they like to do. I don’t know why up to now, a lot of us are still blind on seeing these things right in front of our eyes,” said Araneta.

Still, Araneta maintains that his group will honor the result of the elections.

“Allow Vargas and Tolentino to run. Let them run. Whoever wins, we support. Le us not divide sports.”

There will be 45 voting members in the POC, including athletes’ representatives Henry Dagmil of track and field and Hidilyn Diaz of weightlifting and IOC representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

There is also the possibility that Vargas’ party will allow the elections to proceed without them but the 27 who have expressed their support to him will still write his name on the ballot.

“We will get 27 votes and Peping gets only 13 and we will send it to the IOC,” said a diehard Vargas backer.

ABAP Secretary-General Ed Picson, 3rd from left, joins hands with NSA leaders who have expressed their support for the candidacy of boxing chief Ricky Vargas in the POC presidential derby. From left: Cynthia Carrion (gymnastics), Karen Caballero (sepak takraw), Monico Puentevella (weightlifting), Nonong Araneta (football), Richard Fernandez (shooting) and Richard Bachmann (squash). (Nick Giongco)