POC poll: On or on hold?
vargas rues peping no-show in psc meeting
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas is confident that the court will issue the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) this morning that will put tomorrow’s Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections on hold.
At the same time, Vargas lamented the non- appearance of POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr. in a Philippine Sports Commission-initiated mediation meeting yesterday.
“I am saddened that the door for opportunities to move forward has been effectively shut by the absence of the other side,” said Vargas. “It is unfortunate that Mr. Cojuangco did not see it fit to honor the invitation of Mr. (Butch) Ramirez whose only intention was to help find ways to resolve the issue at hand.”
Ramirez, the PSC chair, had tried to broker a meeting between Cojuangco and Vargas but to no avail as the POC chief decided not to go.
Vargas’ spokesman, former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Chito Salud, said the mediation was a missed opportunity to bring the issue to rest amicably.
“It’s truly unfortunate, a wasted opportunity. Our athletes’ welfare had been put aside yet again. That sums up what Ricky Vargas thinks and feels about the absence of Mr. Peping Cojuangco in today’s (yesterday) mediation meeting,” said Salud.
“Mr. Vargas was keen to take advantage of the offer made in good faith by chairman Ramirez to help find a solution and a mutually acceptable way forward.
He was confident and optimistic that under the firm, fair and wise guidance of the PSC chair, barriers and hurdles that seem intractable would have been recast in a new light, thereby paving the way for a positive resolution,” he added.
Vargas also said that Cojuangco’s refusal to sit down and collectively seek a resolution “highlights the sorry attitude and culture of entitlement of the current leadership, which has no place amongst sportsmen and sports organizations.
“Now more than ever, I present our team as a viable option to promote our athletes’ welfare,” said Vargas.
Meanwhile, if the TRO is issued by Pasig City Judge Elma Rafallo-Lingan, it means that the POC elections will be postponed for the first time in recent years. A new date for the POC elections will be set if the TRO is granted.
An insider said the court may not issue a TRO but may call on the POC to proceed with tomorrow’s elections and allow Vargas and cycling head Rep. Abraham Tolentino, who was also disqualified, to run. Cojuangco, who is seeking a fourth four-year term as POC president, did not issue any comment yesterday.
Vargas showed up at Ramirez’ office yesterday morning while Cojuangco’s camp said the POC chief did not get a formal notice or invitation on the said meeting. But a few days ago, after the Vargas group had filed the case against the POC election committee, the 82-yearold Cojuangco said there was no more reason to sit down and talk.
“Am I willing to sit down? No. What is there to talk about?
Bira sila ng bira eh (They kept hitting me),” said Cojuangco, adding that the POC is not to bend its rules for one or two individuals. “I don’t think it’s proper for any organization to change its rules just to accommodate somebody. I was active in the general assembly even when I was not POC president,” he said.
Cojuangco also said a court ruling on the POC issue such as the holding of an election may be construed as government intervention and may lead to an indefinite suspension by the International Olympic Committee on the Philippines. A POC official said Ramirez’ attempt to mediate between Cojuangco and Vargas was “a very laudable effort” but since the court case had already been filed, it came “a little too late.”
“You file a case against members of the POC election committee, including Mr. Elizalde, and now you want someone else to mediate? Eh bakit pa kayo nag-demanda kung gusto niyo din pala makipag-usap? (Why seek legal action when you want tot alk it over)?)I think it’s too late for that,” the official said.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Vargas’ lawyers insisted that the election committee “acted in bad faith” when they disqualified the two candidates, and that the POC constitution and by-laws does not clearly state what an “active member” means.