The next secretary general of the Philippine Olympic Committee must be a paid professional.
Archery chief Clint Aranas, a member of the executive committee, said this after he and six other heads of national sports associations sought the removal of lawyer Edwin Gastanes as secretary general of the POC.
Aranas, a tax lawyer and accountant by profession, and his colleagues cited instances of ineptitude on Gastanes' part during recent meetings held last month.
“We want a secretary general who is a paid professional, appointed by the president and approved by the board,” said Aranas, whose group is seeking reforms and changes in governance in the POC.
In his letter to POC chairman Steve Hontiveros last Nov. 10, Aranas' group cited seven instances when Gastanes did not carry out his duties and responsibilities.
One of these instances came when Gastanes released the voters' list for the coming Nov. 27 elections without verification and approval from the board.
In another instance, Gastanes did not call a requested meeting for the execom to discuss issues on the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organization as well as the issuance of a financial statement.
Gastanes alleged that no majority was reached to call the meeting.
A civil suit has been filed before the Pasig Regional Trial Court last Tuesday to push the PHIGOC to present an audited financial record of the Games.
Seven members of the executive board have signed their support on the complaint. They include Hontiveros, Aranas, POC first vice president Joey Romasanta, Jonne Go, Jeff Tamayo, Julian Camacho, and Robert Mananquil.
