THE Philippine Olympic Committee will refer to the Court of Appeals the decision of the Pasig Regional Trial Court ordering the sports body to hold new elections on Feb. 23.
The executive council of the POC came up with this unanimous decision yesterday in time for a Jan. 22 deadline set by the court.
POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco said they have authorized their lawyers to make an appeal.
Spokesman Robert Mananquil said the POC will ask Atty. Addison Castro to file a temporary restraining order that will stop the February elections from taking place.
If the court grants the TRO, a preliminary injunction follows and the Court of Appeals takes over the case for the next 12 months.
The Pasig Regional Trial Court recently ruled in favor a complaint filed by boxing chief Ricky Vargas.
Judge Maria Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang of Branch 155 declared the election for the position of POC president and chairman on Nov. 25, 2016 as null and void.
According the judge’s two-page decision, the POC Election committee acted beyond the scope of the power and authority granted it by the POC executive board.
The POC poll body, according to the decision “violated its own election rules when it motu propio disqualified Mr. Vargas and Mr. (Abraham) Tolentino from its list of candidates for the 2016 elections for president and chairman.”
Their absence from regular meetings of the POC General Assembly was the main reason why the election committee disqualified Vargas and Tolentino from the POC elections. Cojuangco ran and won unopposed for the post of POC president.
The POC bylaws contend that for one to seek an elective post, the official must be physically present in the regular POC General Assembly, a rule which Vargas was not able to meet.
Cojuangco said their lawyer will ask the courts to seek a definition on “active membership.”
“The point is, what is an active member?” asked Cojuangco.