The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Friday wants the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to expedite the process of filling the void left by the resignation of the president and chairman and two board members as it urged the POC to follow its guidelines to the letter.
In a correspondence to the POC on July 4 and signed by James MacLeod, the IOC Director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC Relations, and Hussin Al-Musalam of the Olympic Council of Asia, the POC was ordered to proceed with a special board meeting on Monday without the four officials who stepped down.
The four are former POC president Ricky Vargas, who tendered his resignation on June 18, chairman Bambol Tolentino and board members Clint Aranas and Cynthia Carrion.
The IOC set the July 8 meeting as a prelude to an extraordinary General Assembly on July 18 that will pave the way for the elections on July 28.
Vargas had initially thought about attending this Monday’s meeting at the POC headquarters at the Philsports in Pasig but withdrew after reading the IOC letter, stressing that he is on the same page with the IOC in efforts to find a resolution to the nagging leadership problem.
“I was prepared to attend the POC Board Meeting scheduled for July 8, 2019 until I read the last letter from IOC-OCA dated 04 July 2019, which I determined was unfavorable to my attendance,” said Vargas in a statement on Friday.
“I have decided against attending the said meeting. I had hoped to be of help in clarifying several issues currently confronting the POC, but I will accept the advise from the IOC-OCA not to be at the said meeting,” said Vargas, who is the boxing association head.
“The letter also emphasized that ultimately, it is the decision of the General Assembly that should be followed. I wholeheartedly agree. Let the GA members be heard. I urge them to speak out, take up the sword and get involved,” he said.
“This is a crucial time when the collective wisdom of the General Assembly is most needed. May we all be guided by the Almighty in all our thoughts, actions and decisions.”
