‘We need sports reform, not Peping’s ouster’

Karen Tanchanco-Caballero admitted she was only a speck compared to the vastness of Peping Cojuangco, yet she was not afraid to tell the Philippine Olympic Committee that what they were doing is what is needed to reform Philippine Sports.

However, the Philippine Amateur Sepak Takraw Association (Pasta) chairperson and president clarified that they are not out to oust Cojuangco from his seat, but rather to suggest reforms and mend fences for the good of Filipino athletes.

“I’d be a hypocrite if I’ll say I don’t want Mr. Cojuangco out of POC. But for the record, we are not asking for his resignation. Our main objective is to reform the way NSAs run their organizations, amend the POC constitution and by-laws and patch-up or bridge the differences between NSAs, POC and PSC. But if in achieving this means a call for Conjuangco to resign, then so be it,” Tanchanco-Caballero told SunStar Cebu.

To her dismay, when she tried to deliver her talk at the POC General Assembly last Friday, she was cut-off by Cojuangco.

“Sabi nila we should talk. But then when I started to talk, Mr.

This is what Olympism is all about: fairness, sportsmanship. Even at the IOC, they changed leadership. So how come POC constitution guarantees one person to keep presidency for life. There is no such thing as president for life. There should be a term limit and that is what we are batting for. KAREN CABALLERO On proposed POC charter to limit term of presidency

Cojuangco cut me off. Ano ba yan, kasisimula ko pa lang,” she added.

Tanchanco-Caballero was one of the 18 NSA presidents who attended the meeting of NSA heads last Tuesday at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.

“We told him what the meeting was all about. That it was not about his ouster but rather to help him and the POC, come up with a better programs for a better and more comprehensive development of athletes. We ran a survey to gather a consensus about how and what are needed to improve the performances of the athletes. When that survey is done, we will present it again to the General Assembly with our recommended solutions,” she added.

Among the proposed amendment to the POC charter is putting up a limit of terms, especially on the presidency.

Aside from sepak takraw, the other NSA heads present during the Oct. 3 meeting were gymnastics, boxing, rugby, handball, netball, shooting, swimming, judo, karatedo, triathlon, dragon boat/canoe-kayak, table tennis, squash, taekwondo, soft tennis, rowing and arnis.