The International Olympic Committee has placed a special concern on the ongoing leadership wrangling in the Philippine Olympic Committee, but its call for an orderly election would set back the country’s preparation for the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) further.
Already reeling from delays after the Phisgoc Foundation, led by Taguig Cong. Alan Peter Cayetano took over the SEA Games buildup from the original Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee formed solely for it, the IOC order for a new election would push the preparations for another two months.
The call for new polls was an offshoot of Victorico Vargas’ resignation as POC President after his name was dragged into the formation of the Phisgoc Foundation, which the POC Board does not recognize.
Vargas led the incorporation of the Phisgoc Foundation and made Cayetano its chairman.
The IOC’s Director for NOC (National Olympic Committee) Relations James Macleod and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) director general Husain Al-Musallam, however, issued two guidelines to help the POC get back on its feet after Vargas’ resignation.
The two ranking IOC officials declared all resignations during the extraordinary general assembly on June 25 as invalid without the official resignation letters from those who quit.
Only Vargas submitted an official resignation letter.
POC Chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has yet to submit his resignation, although he had declared himself a candidate for the POC presidency. Tolentino is a part of the Phisgoc Foundation.
The IOC also instructed the POC board, which is presently still led by acting President Joey Romasanta, to call for another extraordinary general assembly for the elections.
The IOC and OCA will send representatives to ensure the orderly conduct of the elections.
But it will take two months before these issues get settled, and by then only three months would be left for the SEA Games buildup.
