by Nick Giongco
While admitting that he is eyeing the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) when special elections are held on July 5, POC chairman Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino said he is willing “to give way” to a new set of officers in the hopes of finding peace among the country’s sports leaders.
Tolentino is aligned with the group of resigned POC president Ricky Vargas and isn’t discounting the possibility that he will end up abandoning plans of going after the presidency.
“I would like to settle this once and for all,” said Tolentino, obviously referring to the seemingly never-ending dispute for leadership among key POC officials.
The July 5 election was agreed upon during a meeting Tuesday of POC officials at the GSIS Building in Pasay City. But given the proximity of the said date and the requirements that need to be met, it doesn’t look like it’s going to push through.
Save for three officials who were not around, all positions were vacated although many of those were having second thoughts.
Those who didn’t attend the meeting that was originally been scheduled as a General Assembly, were Prospero Pichay of chess, Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis and Robert Mananquil of billiards and snooker.
Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics also earlier agreed to step down but had a change of heart, raising the number of those keeping their respective posts to four.
Mananquil said he is not relinquishing his post and that the three others are also following his lead.
Talks are rife that those who volunteered to resign, including first vice-president Joey Romasanta, treasurer Julian Camacho and auditor Jonne Go have been told to reconsider given the latest developments and the fact that it was all verbal and not official.
Though the resurgent faction of former POC president Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco has yet to handpick its candidate, archery chief Clint Aranas seems to be the logical choice.
Only the unfinished tenure will be served, meaning the POC will stage another election, that of the regular kind, in November 2020.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Romasanta, who was taking the role of POC president the last six days following Vargas’ sudden decision to resign, also gave up hopes of vying for the presidency.
Since 2016, the POC has undergone leadership changes thrice.
After being re-elected in 2016, Cojuangco was compelled to honor a court-ordered elections against Vargas in 2017 that Vargas, the boxing chief, handily won.
Romasanta’s group wants Tolentino to meet with the board to discuss the conduct of the elections the soonest.
