Legal questions on the coming elections of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Nov. 25 are about to be raised in court.
Lawyers representing boxing chief Ricky Vargas made this possible after they formally filed a complaint on his behalf on Friday.
Vargas spokesman Chito Salud confirmed to the Manila Standard that legal counsel Jake Corporal has filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court of Pasig.
The complaint, which is now under review in Branch 159 of Judge Rodolfo Bonifacio, contests the resolution of the election committee of the POC to disqualify Vargas in running for president.
“Mr. Vargas is seeking an injunctive relief in the form of a TRO (temporary restraining order) and preliminary injunction to enjoin the POC from holding its elections on Nov. 25,” said Salud.
Salud added that the TRO is meant to stop the elections from taking place, and until the legal controversy on the meaning of “active member” is resolved with finality.
The formal filing of the complaint came on the day the POC held a candidates’ meeting for those seeking positions in the Nov. 25 polls.
POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., is seeking a fourth four-year term of office as POC president.
Cojuangco is supposed to run unopposed following the disqualification of Vargas after he failed to meet an election eligibility requirement.
Vargas is also asking the court to have him reinstated as a candidate, and included as an eligible candidate after hearing the merits of the case.
Three weeks ago, the election panel of the POC, headed by Frank Elizalde, denied Vargas’ motion for reconsideration, and disqualified another candidate, triathlon’s Tom Carrasco from his bid to seek another term as chairman.
The position of chairman is also supposed to remain uncontested until the Nov. 25 polls because Carrasco’s main rival for the post, Tagaytay congressman Abraham Tolentino of cycling was also disqualified.
“Mr. Vargas was deprived of due process when the election committee disqualified him without any formal objection from a POC member, and without due notice,” said Salud.
In a resolution sent to all parties concerned, Elizalde explained that physical attendance was a main requirement for an official of a national sports association to be made eligible to run for a post in the POC elections.
According to records, Vargas attended only one meeting of the body between Feb. 6 and May 25 this year.
Vargas camp alleged that the committee acted beyond the scope of its authority when it motu propio, or on its own accord, excluded Mr. Vargas.
He added that the committee has effectively amended the by-laws of the POC without authority by imposing an eligibility requirement that is not specified in the by-laws.