POC polls stir officials

Sports leaders see Cojuangco contender Vargas a welcome development in body’s elections

CEBU sports leaders are airing their concerns on the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections, where three-term president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco is seeking reelection on Nov. 25.

Unlike in 2012, when Cojuangco ran unopposed, this time boxing chief Ricky Vargas is challenging the octogenarian head of the equestrian association.

However, Vargas could lose his chance to win the POC top post even before the first ballot will be cast, as his eligibility is now in question since only candidates that regularly attend the POC general assembly, which is held twice a month, can run.

Vargas’s camp belittled this issue and went on to file his candidacy along with a complete slate last Monday at the POC office at the Ultra complex in Manila.

“He (Cojuangco) should be embarrassed to run for reelection for POC president against a worthy opponent because of a technicality. He should fight fair and square based on his 12 years of accomplishments as POC president,” said Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) Commissioner Felix Tiukinhoy Jr.

Tiukinhoy is also the regional director for the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) for Region 7 and a member of the board of directors of the Philippine Weightlifting Association (PWA).

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Ramon Fernandez said the candidacy of Vargas is a welcome development.

“(That is) very good. (We will be) waiting for the developments. It’s going to be a good fight, that is if Vargas won’t be disqualified. We’ll see what happens in the coming days. PSC is waiting for this development,” Fernandez said.

Line-up

Vargas’s complete line-up includes Rep. Abraham Tolentino (7th district, Cavite) of cycling as chairman, Rep. Alfredo Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental) of badminton as first vice president. Muay Thai’s Lucas Managuelod for second vice president, SBP executive director Sonny Barrios for treasurer, table tennis’s Ting Ledesma for auditor.

However, their candidacy will be scrutinized by the election committee, which is made up of IOC honorary members Frank Elizalde, Bernie Oca and Rep. Conrado Estrella (Abono Partylist).

Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Nonong Araneta earlier came out as the would-be challenger to Cojuangco, but decided to give way when Vargas announced his candidacy for the sake of a unified and solid stand.

“The POC is a private entity; government cannot intervene on how they will run their affairs. Unfortunately, the leadership in POC will mostly determine the future of our athletes. For instance, Cojuangco is setting there for 12 years already, but still our NSAs are divided, and in his leadership produced only had one silver medal in the Olympics and a steady plummeting performance in the Southeast Asian Games. That is because there is too much politics in sports. Probably, it is the right time for a change. But if the NSAs will continue to elect him as the president, fine, but he should do everything in his power to have a clean election, not to disqualify Vargas because he doesn’t go to general assemblies,” basketball and boxing patron Lorenzo Sy said.

Time for change

Cebu-based team manager of the Batang Gilas Andrew Teh, said that it is time for change in the leadership in the POC.

“We need a new leader. Dapat maiba naman. At hindi tatakbo si boss Ricky kung wala siyang pagmamalasakit sa ating atleta, sa Philippine sports. At dun sa issue na baka i- disqualify nila, dahil hindi nag- attend ng meetings, they can’t afford to do it, because if they do, it will be bad for them,” Teh, a travel and tours agency executive explained.

There are a total of 44 voting members in the POC elections—that is made up of NSAs, athletic commissioners and the representative of the IOC.