SUPPORT for the candidacies of Ricky Vargas and Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has swelled even further, now with 27 out of the 43 national sports associations backing their bids for the presidency and chairmanship, respectively, of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Friday.
Sepak takraw chief Karen Caballero, one of the sports leaders openly supporting Vargas and Tolentino, said this yesterday following the lapse of the deadline in the filing for candidacy.
“Today, it is safe to say that there are 27 [who] signed. Mainly, it’s those who are supporting the election that will happen on Friday,” said Caballero during a presentation at the Valle Verde Country Club.
Caballero, one of the seven NSA heads, who are vocal about their leanings, said they felt the need for change in the POC.
She appeared with ABAP executive director Ed Picson, gymnastics’ Cynthia Carrion, football’s Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, weightlifting’s Monico Puentevella, Richard Fernandez of shooting and Robert Bachmann of squash.
Picson said the identities of NSAs, who have signed the petition, will be known on Friday as they have requested for privacy at the moment.
“Petition says that everyone should follow the rule of law and the court order is specific that there should be elections on the 23rd,” said Picson, who put down worries that Vargas and Tolentino will not be allowed to run and be disqualified again.
He said the General Assembly has not approved the resolutions brought to them last Monday by the POC Executive Committee after meeting last Friday.
The resolution says that top officials of national sports associations who have been active members of the POC for two consecutive years are eligible for election for president and chairman. It was also ruled by the execom that a member must have attended around 50% of their meetings to qualify as an “active member.”
They 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 a ground for removal.
Table Tennis chief Ting Ledesma also filed for candidacy as running mate of POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
But this will be questioned in a protest that will be filed before the elections’ committee.
NSA heads believe that only Tolentino should run for chairman.
Athletes representatives Hidilyn Diaz and Henry Dagmil have also expressed their support to the Vargas camp .
They will also ask for the reinstatement of Puentevella and Fernandez as voting members.