Courting International Olympic Committee suspension, Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Abraham Tolentino yesterday said he will push through with the special POC elections on Friday in Pasay City.
In a statement, Tolentino claimed the special polls will follow the results of the extraordinary general assembly meeting held last week.
But that meeting, called after the abrupt resignation of Victorico Vargas as POC president following the discovery of overpriced competition uniforms purchased for the athletes competing in the 30th Southeast Asian Games among other relevant matters, was later declared invalid as it did not follow the 10-day notice required of members to call for a special assembly.
Tolentino also resigned his post during that meeting, although verbally. He also demanded that acting POC President Joey Romasanta, who rose to the presidency by virtue of succession through the vacancy created by Vargas’ resignation, also resign.
Tolentino submitted his resignation letter only last Tuesday morning. Romasanta has yet to resign and is still acting as POC president.
The IOC said no resignation is valid unless it is put in writing.
Two other board members—Clint Aranas of archery and Cynthia Carreon of gymnastics—have also quit. Aranas is said to be challenging Tolentino for the POC presidency.
Tolentino is also working for the Phisgoc Foundation, the second organizing body for the SEA Games which the POC Board does not recognize. The Phisgoc Foundation is led by Taguig Congressman Alan Peter Cayetano, although he is not a signatory to its incorporation.
The Phisgoc, however, had entered into transactions with private companies without the POC Board’s approval, causing a rift that led to Vargas’ resignation.
The IOC, through director for NOC relations James Macleod and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director Husain Al-Musallam, ordered the POC in a June 29 letter for its executive council to convene and discuss the positions rendered vacant and should be disputed in the special elections.
The general assembly will then convene to tackle the groundwork for the special elections.
It is only then that the POC members can conduct an extraordinary general assembly to cast their votes. Representatives from the IOC and OCA will be present during the polls.
The IOC and OCA warned to “reserve the right to take appropriate action” should the POC fail to conduct a peaceful and orderly elections.
These would take about 60 days to complete.
But Tolentino said he will call for elections no later than July 18.
He has formed his own panel to oversee the polls with former Commission on Elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, jiu-jitsu secretary general Ferdie Agustin and POC general counsel Alberto Agra as members.
“As provided in the POC by-laws, I called for an election of all vacant positions on Friday, July 5. I hope those who are interested to serve the POC will make their intentions known, file their intent to run and place themselves before the voting general assembly on Friday,” Tolentino said.
“The IOC and OCA didn’t tell us what the sanctions would be, but we will not be surprised if we get suspended if we defy their order,” a POC board member said.
“That’s why we really have to be careful. We have to follow these steps to the letter and make sure that we will not run the risk of being suspended that will not only paralyze the POC, but will also bar us from hosting the Southeast Asian Games.”