Cebu urges POC for weightlifting election

Almost all Pinoys know Hidilyn Diaz but not all are aware of the Philippine Weightlifting Association Inc. and its struggles. And that's something the Cebu Weightlifting Association wants changed for the good of the sport.

Weightlifting, the sport that ended the Philippines medal drought in Rio after four Olympics, is in turmoil because of a former president who wants it replaced as the recognized NSA under the Philippine Olympic Committee umbrella.

The problem with the PWA started when its president Roger Dullano left the country and former president Monico Puentevella installed himself as the new president without an election or a congress. The problem was further exacerbated when Puentevella informed the International Weightlifting Federation that the new federation for the Philippines is the Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas. He claims the group was founded in 1947 but in reality, he only formed the group this year.

Aside from informing the IWF of the supposed change, he also wrote the POC that his new group be allowed to replace PWAI as the NSA for weightlifting and that he also be recognized as the legitimate president of the PWAI.

Fortunately for weightlifting, the POC didn't put much weight on Puentevella's claim and instead urged him to follow the correct process and also told him that based on the POC records it is Dullano, not Puentevella, who is the recognized president based on their record.

The recent decision by the POC has been a ray of hope to the sport, which hasn’t seen any meaningful program despite Diaz’s silver medal finish in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Felix Tiukinhoy, the president of the CWA and a member of the board of the PWA, is asking POC president Ricky Vargas to join him in calling for an election in the NSA so its impasse will be solved.

“It is very frustrating that after Hidilyn Diaz won the silver medal in 2016, the situation of PWAI worsened as Roger Dullano suddenly left the country and Monico Puentevella entered the association and created his own Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas,” Tiukinhoy said in his letter to Vargas.

With the Olympics just two years away, Tiukinhoy hopes the impasse will be resolved so the NSA can focus on preparing for the Tokyo Olympics.

“We believe that our beloved sport, weightlifting, can provide the Olympic gold medal. Help us protect and save our sport in the Philippines,” Tiukinhoy said in his letter.

Since Diaz’s victory in Rio, the PWAI hasn’t held any national tournament nor started any grassroots program and Tiukinhoy hopes an election in the PWAI can jumpstart the dormant organization into action.

“I believe it is high time for all of us, especially the POC, to have some balls to fight what is duly right for every sports in this country,” he said.