By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The stage is set for a grand showdown for the country’s highest sports position –the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
This, after former PBA star Chito Loyzaga announced his candidacy on Wednesday, Oct. 30, and expressed his readiness to challenge incumbent Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
What makes this year’s presidential derby more exciting is that both protagonists for the most important sports position seem to have solid group of backers.
The challenger is not only the head of baseball association but also the husband of Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga who is very close to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos.
Tolentino, on the other hand, has political allies in the corridors of power, including Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
The Remullas and Tolentinos belong to the “Solid Cavite” block.
Loyzaga’s announcement came a day after Tolentino announced his own lineup for the polls as he seeks a fresh four-year mandate.
Loyzaga, running under the platform of Unity, Good Governance, Transparency, Integrity, Peace and Inclusivity, has basketball’s Al Panlilio as first Vice President, squash’s Robert Bachmann as second Vice President, surfing’s Dr. George Canlas as Treasurer, and weighlifting’s Rod Roque as Auditor.
His Board Members are South Cotabato Rep. Peter Miguel (archery), Dr. Charlie Ho (netball), Rommel Miranda (kurash), Derek Ramsay (gymnastics), and Steven Virata (equestrian).
“I am committed to fostering an atmosphere where inclusivity and unity guide our path forward. I believe that a united and transparent POC will best serve our athletes, coaches, sports officials, and the entire Philippine sports community,” Loyzaga said.
Earlier, Tolentino presented his own lineup also has modern pentathlon’s Rep. Richard Gomez as second VP, volleyball’s Don Caringal as Auditor, and Board Members Ali Sulit (judo), Ferdie Agustin (jiu-jitsu), Len Escollante (canoe-kayak), Alvin Aguilar (wrestling) and Leah Jalandoni Gonzales (fencing).
Curiously, Panlilio and Canlas are also listed in Tolentino’s lineup for the same positions.
Under Tolentino’s watch the last four years, the country has won three gold medals in two Olympics that bridged one cycle, four Asian Games gold medals, and an overall championship in the 30th Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
The POC holds elections once every four years — or one Olympic cycle —specifically on the last Friday of November of an Olympic year.
There are 59 voting members of the POC—34 Olympic national sports associations, 22 non-Olympic federations, two from the Athletes Commission and International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski.
