At least seven national sports association heads can become the next Philippine Olympic Committee president.
And Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association chief Philip Ella Juico leads the list NSA leaders who are eligible to run.
Sources said this after POC Chairman and Tagaytay Cong. Abraham Tolentino made a call finalize the date of new elections during a scheduled Extraordinary General Assembly on June 25.
Romasanta is calling for a special POC general assembly on June 25 “for us to be briefed by the NSAs as to their preparations, their needs and so on, and for the POC to be able to make a more accurate assessment of how we will fare in the SEA Games.”
Tolentino said there is no qualified POC official who can assume the post of the POC at the moment.
“Wala. Because he (Joey Romasanta) is not qualified,” said Tolentino, who talked about the current situation in the POC during a briefing held at the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee at the Kabisera Restaurant in Taguig City.
First Vice President Jose Romasanta, who assumed the post vacated by Vargas, is currently the VP of the Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, which is now headed by Peter Cayco.
Second Vice President Antonio Tamayo is president of soft tennis, which is not an Olympic Sport.
Romasanta has called for the meeting on June 25 to get briefing from the NSAs as to their preparations and their needs.
Tolentino cited POC Bylaws Article 7 Section 6, which states that a special election may be called by the Chairman within 30 days from the date the vacancy arises.
And this is if the named successors are not qualified to succeed the president.
Sources within the POC said archery chief Clint Aranas, Alfredo Panlilio (basketball), swimming's Lanie Velasco, Jonee Go of Canoe/Kayak are qualified.
As head of the cycling organization, Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, Tolentino said he is eligible to run for president and will do so if there is a calling.