A call to greatness

Tomorrow, the POC is scheduled to hold its elections for chairman, president, first vice president, second vice president, treasurer, auditor and four board members but it’s not certain if the balloting will push through. If the Regional Trial Court of Pasig issues a Temporary Restraining Order as sought by disqualified candidates Rep. Abraham Tolentino and Ricky Vargas before the polls open, the elections will be postponed with the danger of inviting IOC sanction a scary possibility.

Tolentino and Vargas were disqualified on the basis of the POC Comelec’s interpretation of an eligibility rule of “active membership in the General Assembly.” But in the POC Constitution and By-Laws, there is no definition of what the rule means. The POC Comelec has interpreted it to mean physical presence in more than half of the General Assembly meetings in the last two years. Former POC general counsel Atty. Victor Africa said when the rule was ratified in 1999, there was no intent of requiring physical presence. In fact, the rule doesn’t even specify attendance in a General Assembly meeting. The reference was to the General Assembly as a body, not as a distinct event as in a General Assembly meeting. Africa should know because he wrote the rule during the term of POC president Celso Dayrit.

Tolentino and Vargas said the POC Comelec overstepped its authority in making a subjective interpretation of the rule and disenfranchising them as legitimate candidates. They argued that the POC Comelec, in effect, took away the voters right to freedom of choice in the elections. All they want is a fair shake. To disqualify them on a highly debatable technicality is far from the perspective of the Olympic spirit.

With Tolentino’s disqualification, there is now no candidate for chairman. The other candidate, reelectionist Tom Carrasco, was also disqualified because he no longer serves as president of an NSA of an Olympic sport which is an eligibility requirement. Last August, Carrasco slid down from president of triathlon to secretary-general. He attempted to legitimize his candidacy by claiming to assume the new position next year but the POC Comelec wouldn’t hear of it. So if Tolentino’s candidacy was accepted, he would’ve run unopposed.

Vargas, whose grandfather Jorge Vargas was the first Filipino to become an IOC member, filed his candidacy as president to oppose incumbent Jose Cojuangco, Jr. who is seeking a fourth consecutive four-year term. Cojuangco, 82, began his first term in 2004. He ran unopposed in three of the last four elections.

POC Comelec chairman Francisco Elizalde said he’s considering to hold the elections tomorrow with or without the TRO. But Tolentino and Vargas went to court appealing for an injunction until they are cleared as candidates. Their hope is the court will declare the POC Comelec’s interpretation as unlawful and discriminatory. If that happens, then the IOC may view it as government intervention in POC affairs, a probable cause for suspension. The TRO will force the postponement of the elections, leaving the POC Comelec no choice but to accept the ruling.

Several quarters are begging for Cojuangco and Vargas to sit down and settle their differences like sporting gentlemen for the sake of Philippine sports. PSC chairman Butch Ramirez has offered to mediate. Obviously, there is gerrymandering involved in the election exercise and it’s not a healthy development.

NSA heads are caught in the crossfire and they’re being made to choose either way with the threat of falling out of favor in case the wrong horse is backed. The essence of democracy is slowly eroded in the process. Because of Vargas’ link to the MVP Group, there are several NSAs closely associated with him. But because Cojuangco is the incumbent, it is within his power to authorize NSA elections and approve accreditation for athletes and officials so that’s his hold.

The ideal situation is for Cojuangco and Vargas to combine forces with no personal agenda. If they’re as selfless as they proclaim themselves to be as leaders of sports, compromising their personal ambitions for the good of athletes shouldn’t be a difficult option. Athletes would be the beneficiaries if they could only agree to work together.

Cojuangco should realize that under his watch over the last 12 years, there was much to be desired in the way that Philippine sports has deteriorated. Why not give others a crack at the job? It’s about time. It won’t mean Cojuangco stepping down completely and moving out of the picture. He has clout in the Olympic Council of Asia and the IOC and remains to be an influential figure in world sports. Surely, Cojuangco must remain in the equation and the proper position would be to serve as POC chairman. Vargas, 64, could then take over as president in a combination that’s the best of both worlds.

There is a call to greatness in the air. The time has come for great men to become greater. This is no longer about personal goals. This is about love of country, selflessness and patriotism. The TRO will be academic if the POC Comelec clears the way for Tolentino and Vargas to run in tomorrow’s elections. And a milestone in Philippines sports will be marked if Cojuangco and Vargas decide to join forces for the sake of Filipino athletes.