The Court of Appeals has denied a request by the POC leadership for a temporary restraining order after a Regional Trial Court rendered null and void the elections for president and chairman in the Philippine Olympic Committee held November last year.
Despite the CA ruling, Peping Cojuangco, POC president, remained adamant and let his lawyers do the talking. He walked out of a general assembly meeting when ABAP President Ricky Vargas, who opposed Cojuangco but was DQ’ed on a technicality, attempted to bring the issue before the NSAs.
Cojuangco’s legal eagles said the issue might be elevated to the Supreme Court which is likely to take much time if ever.
This is a delaying tactic because we know how slow the wheels of justice grind here. On the positive side, we are hoping the SC will promptly throw it out for lack of merit.
This concern is going to cause a big black eye for the country as it prepares to host the 2019 SEA Games here.
With a Damocles sword hanging over his neck, Cojuangco is a lame duck and might not be recognized by the member-nations sitting in the SEAG Federation Council where he, ex officio, is the automatic chair because the Philippines is hosting the regional sportsfest.
This internal quarrel in the POC is not an ordinary spat that can be brushed aside or swept under the rug. It is a BIG embarrassment to the Duterte administration and to a large extent will mirror his political leadership before the ASEAN community of nations.
The RTC has ordered for new elections only for the posts of president and chairman set on Feb. 23.
Not surprisingly, the POC charter was hastily amended to benefit the likes of Cojuangco and his minions who are undoubtedly enjoying being like the ambitious, pesky flies atop the carabao, in a manner of speaking.
There used to be a provision in the POC constitution and by-laws that provides for a three-fourths vote of “no confidence” to oust an abusive, non-performing POC chief.
If, however, foreign ministers in the ASEAN will move to quickly calm down the issue, they could, collectively, vote to designate DFA Secretary Allan Peter Cayetano or his duly-appointed designate, as the SEAG Federation Council chair. (I am hoping Cayetano names PSC chair Butch Ramirez in his stead to the SEAGFC position if this happens.)
The SEAG is the product of the ASEAN unity and is not an IOC-sanctioned sports meet. That is why indigenous sports such as arnis, pencak silat, sepak takraw and others native to other ASEAN members are included whenever a host country opts to include them in the regular calendar of events.
Therefore, Cojuangco’s threat that the International Olympic Committee might come in to suspend the Philippines does not hold water.
The ASEAN ministers’ collective leadership thru the SEA Games Federation Council calls the shots and awards the hosting to a member country they see fit and deserve to stage the games.
Cojuangco is 83 years old. He has served the country as many-time congressman of Tarlac. Isn’t it time for him to graciously leave the reins of Philippine sports to the younger generation as he had already sat on the throne as the longest serving POC president?
What is exactly there at the POC that they are aggressively fighting for?
Prestige? What prestige? Is it about money? Lots of it.
Even Cristy Ramos Jalasco, FVR’s daughter who was elected POC head in 1996, did not aspire for a re-election even if she could. The lady had a deep sense of ‘delicadeza’, that’s why.
Now, the sports public has plenty of legitimate reasons why Cojuangco should step down. He has been POC chieftain since 2000 and what can he be proud of after 4 consecutive Olympic stints?
Nada. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)1 Chron. 29:17. “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
