Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. on Thursday welcomed a Senate inquiry into allegations the sports body has not liquidated funds amounting to P129.6 million with the Philippine Sports Commission.
“Mabuti naman at malalaman din ng publiko kung ano ang mga pangyayari,” Cojuangco told The Standard after learning of Senate Resolution No. 229 filed on Tuesday by Sen. Sonny Angara.
Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.
The resolution directs the Senate Committee on Sports, chaired by Sen. Manny Pacquiao, to look into reports that from 2010 to 2016, funds released by the PSC to the national sports associations through the POC have not been fully liquidated.
Angara, as vice-chairman of the sports committee, said the Senate will also look into the issue surrounding the alleged unjust and arbitrary disqualification of candidates for the position of POC president in the body’s coming Nov. 25 elections.
It’s a move that favors Cojuangco’s rival, boxing association chief Ricky Vargas.
“Whereas, it has been further alleged that the democratic election processes within the POC are under attack and that interested candidates from member National Sports Associations are being prevented from participating as candidates because of, among others, the allegedly unreasonable eligibility requirements imposed in the Amended By-Laws of the POC,” said Angara in his resolution.
Despite the support of powerful sports patron and tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, Vargas was recently disqualified from running as president by the POC and is now seeking legal remedies.
“We welcome a Senate probe on POC issues as it highlights two important reasons why Ricky Vargas is presenting an alternative leadership: greater transparency and accountability,” said Vargas spokesman Chito Salud.
Salud believes the POC should disclose how and where the money was utilized.
Vargas’ camp is now seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the Pasig Regional Trial Court court to stop the scheduled election of POC officers in a fortnight.
Jake Corporal of the ACCRA law office, a lawyer representing Vargas, said they will obtain the TRO from the Pasig RTC on Nov. 19, two weeks after receiving the copy of the Nov. 4 final decision of the POC Commission on Elections.
The POC panel rejected Vargas’ appeal for reconsideration over the earlier ruling disqualifying the boxing chief from running as president.
Vargas said the term “active member” is susceptible to so many interpretations. The POC deemed him not active enough because he didn’t personally attend all but one of the sports group’s last 20 General Assembly meetings.
“The By-Laws of an organizations allows a member to be represented in the meeting and he is still an active member. We are going to court to file a TRO so that the term ‘active member’ would be interpreted once and for all,” said Vargas.