Arnis Philippines Inc. president Raymond Velayo vowed to challenge the Philippine Olympic Committee leadership and continue his fight for due process.
In a recent ARPI press conference held at the Club Filipino in San Juan City, Velayo, with his board of directors, cited Section 6 of the POC by-laws and questioned their expulsion from the Olympic family.
During the POC General Assembly last Nov. 22 in Pasig City, ARPI was expelled from the group.
Velayo said membership of the NSA in the POC shall cease upon disbandment of the NSA and expulsion for non-payment of annual subscription for three consecutive years, expulsion of the NSA by its international federation or infringement of the POC by-laws and Olympic charter.
“Based on Section 6, there is no valid reason to remove us and there is no basis for the revocation,” Velayo said.
He added that no reason was even given to ARPI in their removal from the group.
“They said the General Assembly voted 39 of 43 against us. How can it be when there were only 25 voting members present in the GA,” Velayo asked.
ARPI, Velayo said, will also appeal to International Olympic Committee and the sport’s International Federation.