The International Olympic Committee on Tuesday issued a quick rebuke of resigned Philippine Olympic Committee Chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s call for an election on a date not later than July 18, 2019, placing the resolution of the Council’s leadership vacuum at the hands of the POC Board and later, its General Assembly.
A two-page letter dated July 2, signed by IOC director for Olympic Solidarity and National Olympic Committee Relations James Macleod and Olympic Council of Asia director general Hussain al-Musallam recognized the resignation of Victorico Vargas as POC President and Tolentino. They also took notice of the resignation of Board Members Clint Aranas and Cynthia Carreon.
Macleod and al-Musallam then instructed the POC to “follow due process to avoid any further challenges and hold free and fair elections for (the) vacant positions.”
The IOC and the OCA said the process should start with the POC executive council convening within five days to review the IOC directives.
Then, it should create an independent elections commission before an extraordinary General Assembly is call within 10 days.
If these are followed, the POC will hold a special board meeting on July 8, with the the first extraordinary general assembly to be set on July 18.
This will also nullify the election commission earlier formed by Tolentino. It was supposedly to be manned by former Commission on Elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, jiu-jitsu secretary-general Ferdie Agustin and POC general counsel Alberto Agra.
The spate of resignations by the top POC officials was spurred by questions raised by the POC Board against the eligibility of the Phisgoc Foundation, led by Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
The Phisgoc Foundation, which entered into private contracts including those for the athletes’ uniforms later found to be overpriced, was incorporated by Vargas and his staff, along with those of Cayetano, which the POC Board claimed has superceded the existence of the original Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee—or simply Phisgoc—to which Cayetano was appointed to act as chairman by former POC President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.
Vargas was the first to resign when he faced the POC Board on June 18, followed by Tolentino this week. Tolentino, however, had earlier called for elections on July 5 or on a date not later than July 18.
But the IOC and the OCA will send representatives to ensure the orderly conduct of both the elections and the extraordinary general assembly meetings.
But Tolentino, a Tagaytay Congressman and cycling association chief who is eyeing the POC presidency against Aranas, said there is an urgent need to fill out the four key positions.
The IOC and OCA countered that holding these elections will not be an easy process.
Meanwhile, renowned election lawyer Gregorio “Goyo” Larazzabal has expressed interest in helping out in the coming elections for a new set of leaders of the Philippine Olympic Committee.
The former Commission on Elections commissioner said he is open to talks about his role following POC chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s call for elections on all vacant positions.
“I am free to discuss and receive the necessary documents to allow us to prepare,” said Larazzabal in his letter to Tolentino.
Tolentino believes that the polls must not be delayed by more than a month after the position for president has been vacated.
