Cycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino immediately called for unity after he was elected president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“As the saying goes, set aside the differences, move forward and let’s all be united,” said the 47-year-old Tolentino after winning the POC presidential post against athletics head Philip Ella Juico.
Tolentino, the congressman representing the 7th district of Cavite (Tagaytay), received 24 votes when the counting ended yesterday at the end of the special elections of the POC at the Sheraton Hotel in Manila.
The president of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines became the 12th president of the POC, after replacing Ricky Vargas (boxing), who quit last June.
There were a total of 44 votes that were cast, with 41 coming from leaders of national sports, association, and three from International Olympic Committee member Mike Cojuangco Jaworski, athletes commission representatives Hidilyn Diaz and Henry Dagmil.
Juico, who was at first hesitant to run, got 20 votes during the two-hour long polls that was presided by arbitration lawyer Teodoro Kalaw IV, and members of the three-man election panel, also composed of Letran athletics moderator Fr. Vic Calvo, and Deputy House Speaker and Pampanga Representative Conrad Estrella III.
“That’s the result of the voting. I have to deal with it. I have to accept it. Iyun ang baraha. Those are the cards that were dealt to you, and you play,” said Juico.
Steve Hontiveros (handball) is chairman after beating taekwondo’s Robert Aventajado, 26-18.
Archery’s Clint Aranas earned a seat in the executive board with 24 votes, along with gymnastics’ Cynthia Carrion (23), with opponents Monico Fuentevella (weightlifting) and Lani Velasco taking 21 and 19 votes.
Acting president Joey Romasanta, who took over following Vargas’ resignation, immediately shook the hands of Tolentino, Hontiveros, Aranas and Carrion after the winners were announced.
Lawn tennis representative Antonio Cablitas was allowed to vote following a clarification hearing on a protest filed by the kickboxing NSA.
The Philippine National Shooting Association and the Philippine Rugby Football Union decided to abstain from voting.
On the other hand, the Elecom turned down an appeal for karatedo to be able to vote through Richard Lim of Karatedo Pilipinas, which was not able to present a letter of recognition from its international federation.
In his first order of business, Tolentino said he is replacing Charlie Ho as acting secretary general, Karen Caballero as deputy secretary general and Robert Bachmann as membership committee head.
Patrick Gregorio will be back as secretary general, while the post of deputy secretary-general will be offered Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (fencing). Lucas Managuelod is set to replace Bachmann as membership head.
International Olympic Committee observer Dr. Narinder Dhruv Batra observed the proceeding after watching the first two meetings of the General Assembly at the Manila Golf Club in Makati.
An election for new leaders took place after Vargas resigned last June following questions raised by the executive board on the incorporation of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Foundation.
Since then, Romasanta took over as acting president.