Cojuangco digs in as Vargas pushes for polls in the wake of CA ruling on TRO
POC reelection issue remains unresolved
Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco Jr. appears inclined to thwart moves, specifically one ordered by a trial court, for the holding of a special election for the POC’s presidency and chairmanship.
Presiding over the POC’s general assembly yesterday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City, Cojuangco initially delivered his report regarding updates on the national athletes’ preparations for this year’s upcoming international events.
When given the chance to speak, Association of Boxing Alliances President Ricky Vargas asked the POC’s election committee to carry out and implement the court’s decisions regarding the contentious election.
“I therefore ask this body to join me in asking the POC leadership to prepare for elections and stop all efforts to delay or throw political technicalities for elections to happen,” stated Vargas during his speech in front of 32 NSA heads and representatives plus two athletes and IOC Representative Mikee Cojuangco.
“Personally an election is what I fought for. The outcome and the choice of who will lead the POC is at least back in your hands,” added Vargas.
The Court of Appeals denied on Tuesday a request for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed by the POC on a decision by a Pasig court for them to hold elections anew for the positions of President and Chairman of the said organization.
The case stemmed from the disqualification of Vargas and Rep. Abraham Tolentino of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines as candidates for president and chairman, respectively, in the 2016 elections of the POC, allowing Cojuangco to run unopposed.
POC Deputy Secretary-General Simeon Garcia later on insisted that while they were denied a TRO, the CA still needs to act on another petition they filed regarding the review of the order of the Pasig RTC.
”Ang POC, nag-file ng petition for review sa CA questioning the order of the RTC. Ang sinasabi namin ng POC, definitely kapag sinabi ng CA na tama ‘yung desisyon ng RTC, mag-eeleksyon. Pero ang gusto nila (Vargas), mangyayari sa (Feb.) 23. Magkakaroon ng awkward situation legally,” said Garcia. “Assuming na nanalo sila (Vargas), papaano kung sa petition for review sa CA, rineverse ng CA ang desisyon ng RTC. Ang nangyari lang, hindi inissue ng CA ‘yung restraining order kasi gusto nila marinig ang bawat panig doon sa petition for review questioning the RTC in ordering an election.”
Vargas and Tolentino went to court to challenge their disqualification which was based on the provision in the POC by-laws requiring a candidate to be an “active member of the General Assembly.”
The Pasig court under Judge Ma. Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang ruled that not only was the interpretation wrong but that the committee on elections had no authority to interpret the by-laws. It also said the committee was only supposed to organize and supervise the elections.
“There will be elections. Having none not only takes away from us our basic right to choose but also risks contempt of court,” said Vargas. “We do not have a duly elected Chairman and President. What we have is a holdover president at best.”
As discussions were starting to become heated, Cojuangco abruptly adjourned the assembly, leaving everything hanging in the air, most notably the reelection issue.