RICKY Vargas, the president of the Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines, is saddened by his disqualification from running for president of the Philippine Olympic Committee against Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, who is seeking an unprecedented fourth term.
The POC-Comelec Committee disqualified Vargas and PhilCyling’s Bambol Tolentino, who was seeking the Chairmanship, on the claim that they had not attended various POC general assembly meetings, which they alleged was a rule of the POC covering any officer seeking either the POC presidency or he chairmanship.
The POC-Comelec Committee is headed by Frank Elizalde and composed of Bro. Bernie Oca of De La Salle University and congressman Conrado Estrella Jr., Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports.
However, incumbent POC vice president Joey Romasanta, a close confidant of Cojuangco, told the Manila Standard on Tuesday he did not wish to comment on the eligibility of Vargas, which had been previously questioned by officials identified with the POC chief because it would incur the ire of chairman Elizalde.
“I didn’t think that there is a rule requiring a candidate to attend the various general assembly meetings in order to be eligible to run for the position of POC president,” said Romasanta,
He clarified he “really couldn’t comment much because the Comelec has taken over jurisdiction.”
“In my opinion, it’s the propriety of having been indifferent all of these times and not even offering any advice or criticism (that was being questioned),” said Romasanta.
However, Vargas said he had sent a representative to all the meetings.
In an overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard, Vargas, who is among the businessmen in Tokyo on the state visit of President Rody Duterte along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny Pangilinan, regretted that Elizalde “who has such a prominent name can’t comprehend the soundness of our position,” which is basically to help Philippine sports with the “silent majority telling us, it’s about time we do something” to correct the present disastrous situation in Philippine sports as highlighted by the disastrous showing in the Southeast Asian Games.
“I am still hoping for some sense of reason,” said Vargas, who revealed that Mr. Pangilinan was “upset” with the developments and had given him the courage to continue the fight.
“But I don’t want to go to court because I don’t want the country to suffer because the IOC may say it’s a sign of government interference,” said Vargas.
Romasanta believes that the fight for the POC presidency may evolve into a corporate battle.
“They have the resources and can hire high-priced lawyers,” Romasanta said.
Pangilinan, who supports eight different sports, is backing the candidacy of Vargas.
Former PBA Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud, the spokesman of Vargas, said he would “definitely question his (Vargas’) disqualification.
“I believe he has all the qualifications to run for POC president and none of the disqualifications,” said Salud. “It is unfortunate the disqualification clearly disregards the principle of fair play and prejudices not just the rights of ABAP and Mr. Vargas, but the interest and welfare of Philippine sports as well.”
Salud indicated the lawyers are “preparing the remedies available to Mr. Vargas and will determine whether it is pointless or futile to ask the election committee and the POC executive board for a reconsideration of the disqualification.”