Court denies Vargas petition

JOSE “Peping” Cojuangco is assured of his bid to remain as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee for a fourth term.

This after the Pasig City Regional Trial Court denied the camp of boxing chief Ricky Vargas their application for  a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) that was supposed to stop the coming POC elections from taking place this Friday.

“The prayer for a temporary restraining order is denied,” wrote Pasig City Regional Trial Court  Judge Elma Rafallo-Lingan of Branch 159 in a decision released to all parties concerned.

“Now, we will have elections tomorrow,” said Cojuangco, upon learning of the decision, and added that  it is now time to restore harmony within the POC family. “My concern now is how to restore harmony within the POC so we can concentrate on our objectives, which is to improve sports in the country.”

He only needs a simple majority vote from representatives of 40 national sports associations, three members of the athletes’ commission and one from the International Olympic Committee representative in order to formally keep his post.

The elections are set to commence at 1 p.m. today at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Joey Romasanta (volleyball) will again contest the post of first vice president, this time with Representative Albee Benitez (badminton) as his rival.

Jeff Tamayo (soft tennis) will seek the position of second VP with retired gen. Lucas Managuelod (muay thai).

Julian Camacho (wushu) seeks the treasurer position with Sonny Barrios (basketball).

Jonee Go (canoe-kayak) emerged as the lone candidate for auditor after Ting Ledesma (table tennis) backed out.

Seeking to be members of the board are Clint Aranas (archery), Cynthia Carrion (gymnastics), Robert Mananquil (billiards), Prospero Pichay (chess) and Romeo Magat (tennis).

The position of chairman will be vacant as both Tom Carrasco of triathlon and his rival Tagaytay Representative Abraham Tolentino of cycling are both disqualified.

“The court’s denial of our application for a restraining order is of course most disappointing,” said Vargas spokesman Chito Salud.

Last month, because of their absence in numerous meetings of the POC General Assembly, the three-man election panel of the POC, disqualified boxing chief Ricky Vargas and cycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino from seeking the POC’s two top posts.

Election committee chief Frank Elizalde cited Section 11 in Article 7  of the POC constitution and bylaws, which states  that “the Chairman and the President of the POC must have had at least 4 years experience as NSA President of an Olympic Sport at the time of his election as POC Chairman or President.

Section 11 also states that “provided, that they must be elected from any of the incumbent NSA Presidents representing an Olympic sport, and provided, further, that they have been an active member of the POC General Assembly for two consecutive years at the time of their election.”

This compelled Vargas to seek remedies by filing for a TRO.

They cited the ‘active member’ clause in the bylaws, which the Vargas camp said was interpreted by the POC election committee as his attendance in general assembly meeting which the boxing chief didn’t meet.

Vargas, however, said the term ‘active member’ is vague and can be interpreted in different ways.