Sports officials with a track record on good governance and transparency are joining archery chief Clint Aranas as he seeks the presidency of the Philippine Olympic Committee in the coming elections this November.
POC chairman Steve Hontiveros of handball and Former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Philip Ella Juico of athletics will form part of his ticket when polls are held on Nov. 27.
The unblemished record of Hontiveros as a long time hand in the POC, and Juico’s good showing as head of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, has convinced Aranas to team up with the two.
Hontiveros will once again seek the post of chairman, while Juico will run for the position of first vice president.
“He (Hontiveros) has never been involved in any scandal. As for Popoy Juico, he had a good run as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, and as for his NSA (national sports association) of athletics, they had the biggest haul in the Southeast Asian Games,” said Aranas, who heads World Archery Philippines.
So far, transparency in the governance of the POC will be among his agenda when he goes for the presidency.
Aranas does not have a candidate for second vice president. But he will support the bid of Ada Milby, who is the secretary general of the Philippine Rugby Football Union.
Milby, 37, is seeking the post as an independent.
“I like her because she is outspoken, she speaks her mind,” added Aranas.
Aranas said he has no choice but to go against the bid of Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will seek a full four-year term as POC president during the polls.
“I have no choice, no other NSA leader wants to run against the incumbent,” said Aranas.
More members of Aranas’ ticket will be known in the coming days.
Tolentino, who is the president of the Integrated Cycling Federation, earlier revealed that Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio and Ormoc City mayor Richard Gomez are joining his ticket.
Panlilio, who is also the president of Smart Communications and chief revenue officer of PLDT, is seeking the post of first vice president. On the other hand, Gomez, who is the president of fencing and the modern pentathlon federation, will campaign to win the second vice president post.
Tolentino became the POC president following special elections in July last year.
At that time, Tolentino won over uico and took over the unfinished term of boxing head Ricky Vargas.