Karate blow & peppering Peping

IF IT’S true that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has stopped recognizing the Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF), does that mean the PKF also lost its lofty standing in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)?

Remember, the PKF president is Joey Romasanta, the POC vice president who is one of the staunchest allies of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

Under statute rules, only POC-accredited national sports associations, including the PKF, get PSC recognition and are entitled to allowances and other privileges.

It’s been almost a week since the story about the PKF falling out of PSC’s grace was exposed by the Inquirer and other broadsheets.

But as of this writing, we have yet to hear from either Romasanta or PKF secretary general Raymund Lee Reyes. Through the PSC, both are being probed by the National Bureau of Investigation for alleged misappropriation of public funds.

Some weeks back, Asian Games bronze winner Mae Soriano and 17 other karatekas signed a manifesto expressing their loss of confidence in both Romasanta and Reyes.

Earlier, a PSC Task Force exposed alleged “inconsistencies” in the liquidation report of overseas expenses submitted by Reyes.

Peping is himself embroiled in a controversy wherein he was ordered by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to order a POC election, or face consequences that might jeopardize the entire structure of Philippine sports.

Peping’s 2016 presidential POC victory was overturned by a Pasig court upon appeal by Ricky Vargas. Said decision was upheld by the Court of Appeals.

The twin verdicts were the result of Vargas’s protest against his disqualification as Peping’s foe following the Committee on Elections’ ruling that Vargas was an “inactive member” of the POC because he absented himself from General Assembly meetings.

The Pasig court said the election committee had no jurisdiction to define what an “inactive member” is, ruling that the committee’s job was limited to “supervising and handling” the election.

Also bumped off in the 2016 election was Abraham Tolentino as candidate for chairman for likewise being an “inactive member.”

Will Peping heed the IOC, order another election and finally face Vargas on Feb. 23?

I say Peping will only do so if he is sure of defeating Vargas.