Vargas’ court victory crucial

RICKY Vargas, installed on Sunday as the new chair of the Philippine Basketball Association, scored another huge victory on Wednesday—this time, not on the hard court but in a real court.

Judge Maria Gracia CadizCasaclang of the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 115 ruled on Dec. 20 in Vargas’ favor: “The POC [Philippine Olympic Committee] election committee acted beyond the scope of its power and the authority granted to it by the POC Executive Board, and had violated its own POC election rules, when it motu propio [on its own] disqualified Vargas and Tolentino [to run] for the POC elections for president and chairman, respectively. The Election Committee’s ground for disqualifying Vargas and Tolentino is invalid as it cannot take it upon itself to restrict or qualify the term ‘active member’ [in] Article VII, Section XI of the POC bylaws as to mean physical presence in the General Assembly. Accordingly, this court resolves the instant Election Contest in plaintiffs’ favor.”

The lady judge said: “Wherefore, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered declaring the POC elections held on November 25, 2016, as null and void insofar as the positions of POC president and chairman are concerned.”

She ordered the POC “to conduct anew the POC elections for the positions of president and chairman on February 23, 2018, to include Mr. Victorico Vargas and Rep. Abraham Tolentino as candidates for POC president and POC chairman, respectively.”

The POC elections committee was headed by Francisco Elizalde, the former International Olympic Committee [IOC] representative from the Philippines who ruled that Vargas and Tolentino were ineligible to run last year for their alleged lack of attendance in the POC general assembly.

Elizalde’s successor as the country’s IOC representative is Mikee Jaworski, whose father, Peping Cojuangco won a fourth straight term unchallenged as POC president due to Vargas’ disqualification.

“I am much relieved,” said Vargas, the boxing president. “We fought on principle and now the NSAs (national sports associations) are given the opportunity to choose. Finally, we have obtained justice. Thank you all.” Is Peping’s reign coming to an end? Merry Christmas!