Vargas files official POC bid
POC urged to let Vargas run in polls
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines ( ABAP ) president Ricky Vargas formally filed his candidacy for the top post in the Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday on a bid anchored on needed reforms that would help revitalize Philippine sports.
Vargas, leading a full ticket including Rep. Bambol Tolentino ( cycling) as chairman, Rep. Albee Benitez ( badminton) as first vice president and muay thai’s Lucas Managuelod as second vice president, is seeking to end the 12-year tenure of incumbent president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
Also running under Vargas ticket are Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios as treasurer and Ting Ledesma of table tennis as auditor.
“I think we have a very good team, a fresh team, and ready to serve,” said Vargas, grandson of Jorge Vargas, a founding member and former president of the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation ( forerunner of the POC).
Am an with impressive credentials in the corporate world, Vargas promised to bring good governance that will make the athletes proud of the officials that represent them.
He bared his platform to sports media at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas Center before proceeding to the POC office inside the Ultra Complex to file his candidacy, accompanied by Tolentino, Managuelod and Barrios, among others.
The 64-year-old MVP Group top executive vowed to empower the national sports associations, have a good working relationship with the Philippine Sports Commission and get support from the International Olympic Committee.
Does he have the number to gain the POC presidency? He’s said he hopes to amass the needed votes before election day on Nov. 25.
“That’s always the question that I hear. Yes we do is easiest way to say it. But I don’t do that. I want firm commitment. Hopefully as we get closer to Nov, 25, we could prove that we could make this big step not for us but for them (nationals sports associations and the athletes),” said Vargas.
“We’re getting a lot of support from the athletes. But we’re having difficulty with the NSAs because the feel intimidated by the 12-year dispensation,” Vargas also said.
“They’re afraid to come out. It’s very vindictive,” Vargas added. “So we have our number ‘ for change’ and they have their number borne out of fear.”
Vargas is the first to challenge the presidency of Cojuangco in eight years.
Cojuangco became POC president in 2004 by acclamation and narrowly defeated the late Art Macapagal of shooting in the 2008 elections, 21- 19. In 2012, the former Tarlac congressman ran unopposed after Manny V. Pangilinan, the former president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, begged off from seeking the top POC post.
There are 44 voting members of the POC, representing the national sports associations, the athletes commission and the International Olympic Committee representative.
“It’s a choice between more of the same or something new,” said Vargas of the issue on election day.
Ricky Vargas said he is willing to leave the corporate world and work full time if elected to the POC top post even as his supporters urged POC president Peping Cojuangco to push thru with the election.
Cojuangco has maintained that Vargas might not be qualified to run, citing an eligibility rule that one must be a sitting president of an NSA representing an Olympic sport for at least four years and must be in active participation in the POC general assembly to be eligible for election.
But Vargas contended the provision was not in the POC by-laws.
Meanwhile, Gen. Lucas Managuelod of muay thai stressed the Amateur Boxing Alliances of the Philippines is “very active” in the POC general assembly with regular attendance from its representative.
“That requirement refers to NSA not to a person. Whoever attends the General Assembly represents the NSA,” said Managuelod.
“Why resort to disqualification? This is sport. We should face the fight,” said Rep. Bambol Tolentino of cycling.
Vargas urged Cojuangco to let him run in the election.
“They’ve been there for 12 years, the problem is that he’s not allowing us to run in the election. It’s very unreasonable. If you look at that rule, its only their group which would qualify,” said Vargas. “Just allow us to run.”
Vargas, top executive of Manny V. Pangilinan in the giant MVP Group of Companies, also belied Cojuangco’s charge that he might not have the time to do the job once elected .
“It’s quality versus quantity. It’s the quality of management,” said Vargas, adding he’s ready to quit the corporate world if the job of the POC chief calls for it.
“I’ve been endorsed by MVP. I will not be there if I don’t have the support of my boss. That comes with the time to be able to do the job,” he also said.
“I’m also asking myself how long I want to do this. I just want to set the stage just for four years, then I’ll go. I’m willing to sign that statement,” he added. “We’ll develop a stronger POC, and that’s our mission for the Philippine sports.”
One big supporter is football president Nonong Araneta.
“Ricky Vargas, with his vast experience in corporate governance and sports administration will make POC a respected organization once again and bring in the necessary reforms for Philippine sports to achieve its true potential and give the attention it truly deserves,” said Araneta.