Abap re-elects MVP, Vargas
MANILA - The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, Inc. (Abap), the national association for boxing, Saturday afternoon held elections at the Microtel by Wyndham-MOA in Pasay City.
Re-elected for a third term were Manuel V. Pangilinan as chairman and Ricky Vargas as president. Pangilinan and Vargas are two of the highest executives of the MVP group, which has been the association's private sector benefactor for the past eight years.
Also elected were Representative Raul Daza (Northern Samar) as vicechairman, and John Patrick Gregorio (Maynilad) as vice-president.
Appointed treasurer was Atty. Oscar P. Moreno, Jr. (Cagayan de Oro), corporate secretary Atty. Leonardo Aguilar, Jr. and secretary-general/executive director Ed Picson.
Attending as observers were Philippine Olympic Committee Secretary-General Stephen Hontiveros and Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez.
The elected members of the Board of Trustees are : Region 1-Atty. Liberato Reyna, Region 3 -Vice-Governor Jose Gay Padiernos, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)-Reinaldo Bautista, National Capital Region (NCR)- Jose Jorge Vargas, Region 4-A- Venerando Rea, Region 4-B- Roger Castro, Region 6- Angel Verdeflor, Region 7- Lorenzo Sy, Region 8- Daza, Region 9-Dr. Cecilia Atilano, Region 10-Atty. Oscar Moreno Jr., Caraga- Freddie Dacera, AFP-Col. Ruben Candelario, MVPSF-Pangilinan, PLDT-Ricky Vargas and Maynilad Gregorio.
In an acceptance statement, Vargas said, "I am honored and humbled by the continued support of our members. While we were disappointed at our failure to win medals in the Olympics, we offer no excuses. Rather, we pledge to move forward and ramp up our efforts to energize the national boxers into a more potent force in the international arena. Our grassroots program, which has been the centerpiece of our administration, will be even more active and our already warm relations with our international federations Aiba and ASBC will be further enhanced."
"Together with the other members of our board, we will initiate more local tournaments in the countryside. Our referees, judges and coaches will continue to have more opportunities for advancement," he added.