SUPPORT to let Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines’ president Ricky Vargas and PhilCycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino run for posts in the Philippine Olympic Committee is gaining ground.
Majority of national sports associations have reportedly signed a petition, which would pave the way for Vargas and Tolentino to run for president and chairman, respectively, of the POC this Friday.
“That petition was signed by majority of the members. We will present that to the board,” said Vargas spokesman Ed Picson.
Elections are set to push through on Feb. 23, but Vargas is still unsure if he could be allowed to run or if he will be disqualified again.
His fate will be determined once a newly formed election committee of the POC deliberates on the provisions on the eligibility of candidates that were approved last Friday.
“We don’t know (if we will be allowed to run). The decision to disqualify us will come after they (POC) form the Comelec,” said Vargas after yesterday’s close-door general assembly meeting of the POC at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
The election committee is now reassembled and expected to include former justice secretary John Agra, who will take the place of House Committee on Youth and Sports head Rep. Conrado Estrella III. He will be joined by former International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde and Bro. Bernie Oca of De La Salle University.
Vargas talked about his sentiments with Tolentino, who were both not allowed to run for president and chairman during polls held last year.
During the three-hour meeting, the body moved to approve the new resolutions into the POC constitution and bylaws regarding the qualifications of officials running for president and chairman.
One of the proposals that worries Vargas is that top officials of national sports associations, who have been active members of the Philippine Olympic Committee for two consecutive years are eligible for election for president and chairman.
The POC also resolved that the absence of an elected officer in an executive board meeting for at least three consecutive times, or a total of five in year, can be grounds for removal.
Vargas felt that different interpretations of active membership, wherein a member must have attended around 50% of their meetings, could disqualify them again.
During the assembly, the heads of shooting and weightlifting were among those not allowed to join.
That’s because outgoing shooting president Richard Fernandez’s decision to step down and turn over his leadership to Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson has not yet been accepted by the POC.
The POC is also still questioning the compliance of the new weightlifting body and asked its president Monico Puentevella to step out.
Officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, led by Ramon Fernandez, were not allowed to join the meeting as observers.