3-man body to review POC charter
The Philippine Olympic Committee ( POC) yesterday formed a three- man committee to review its constitution and bylaws for possible amendments, including the disputed “active membership” provision that marred last year’s elections.
POC legal counsel Ramon Malinao, first vice president Joey Romasanta and board member Butch Pichay were tasked to study proposals for changes in the Olympic body’s charter.
Among the provisions likely to be amended are the “active membership” requirement for POC presidential candidates, which led to differing interpretations between the election committee and the camp of disqualified aspirant Ricky Vargas of boxing and a court case, as well as the setting up of term and age limits.
“We’ll likely tackle proposed amendments on the definition of active membership, term limit and age limit as well as athletes’ commission,” Romasanta told The
STAR yesterday. Although no specific proposal is on the table at this point, Romasanta said he is personally batting for an age cap.
“Why not follow the industry compulsory retirement of 65? The industry set this age cap to maintain the competitiveness of the companies. We can apply this to the POC as well. You’ll need a lot of energy (for the job),” he said.
Also high on agenda of the committee on constitution and by- laws amendments will be the composition of the athletes’ commission.
In the present charter, only Olympians are qualified for the athletes’ body but taking the cue from the International Olympic Committee itself, Romasanta said the POC will open the athletes’ commission to non-Olympians.
At the same time, the POC wants to have athletes’ representation in the executive board. Presently, one athlete gets to sit on the board merely as “observer.”
Meanwhile, POC president Peping Cojuangco announced the appointment of Romasanta as chef de mission for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia as special adviser to the POC president. Robert Mananquil as media bureau chief, and Romy Magat as deputy secretary general. –