MVP laments ‘cloud of doubt’

MANILA, Philippines - Business magnate and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan said yesterday he hopes the “cloud of doubt” created by the disqualification of ABAP president Ricky Vargas as candidate for POC president on allegedly “vague” grounds in the Nov. 25 polls will be erased as soon as possible because it undermines the integrity of the voting process.

“Rules are rules and we should respect what the rules are,” he said. “But interpreting the rules could be tricky because of the subjectivity of interpretation. The COMELEC should ensure that there will be fair, honest and free elections, that the voting won’t be rigged. It’s in the democratic process where voters are made to choose who their leaders will be. I don’t think it’s right to disqualify a candidate on a technicality based on a subjective interpretation and deprive the voters of a choice in the election for POC chairman and president.”

Pangilinan referred to the disqualification not only of Vargas but also of Rep. Abraham (Bambol) Tolentino of cycling as candidate for POC chairman by the COMELEC on the grounds that they failed to actively participate in the POC General Assembly meetings over the last two years. There is no clear-cut definition of “active participation” in the rules although the COMELEC has equated it to mean physical attendance in more than half of the 12 General Assembly meetings in the last two years. But camps of Vargas and Tolentino insisted that the NSAs they head have been represented in the meetings and their track records as medal achievers are beyond reproach.

Pangilinan said he chose to step down as SBP president this year to give others a chance to serve. He was at the SBP helm for over eight years and brought the Philippines back in good standing with FIBA. “It was the pragmatic thing to do,” he said. “It was good for the country and the institution. I don’t believe in a sense of entitlement where you think you can stay forever in your position. There comes a time when you need to hand over the reins to someone younger, someone who’s capable and dynamic, someone who has a lot of good, fresh ideas.”

Vargas said there was a clamor from the SBP ranks for Pangilinan to extend his term. But Pangilinan said it was time to let go. He was later named SBP chairman emeritus while Al Panlilio was voted new president.

In the IOC, a president is elected to one term of eight years and may seek reelection for an extension of four years so the limit is 12 years. Additionally, the age limit for an IOC member is 80. The term limits were instituted after the 21-year rule of Juan Antonio Samaranch who relinquished the IOC presidency in 2001 at the age of 81. Jacques Rogge was his successor and ruled for 12 years up to the age of 71. POC president Jose Cojuangco, Jr. is now 82 and is seeking to extend his term to another four years or up to 2020. Cojuangco has been the POC president since 2004 and has now served 12 years in the position.

“If there is a cloud of doubt on the eligibility of a candidate, why not put it to a test before the voters?” said Pangilinan. “That would be the ultimate test. I think the voters deserve a choice. If there is a difference of opinion in the interpretation of an eligibility rule by two parties, then let the voters decide as the third or independent party. The NSAs deserve the leader they want. My hope is the COMELEC makes sure the democratic process of voting is preserved. Once the process is assured, then let’s get on with the elections and after the counting, let’s respect the results which shouldn’t be questioned. For my part, I will support 100 percent those who are voted in fair, honest and free elections.”

Last Thursday, the COMELEC issued a memorandum with the list of qualified candidates for the POC elections excluding Vargas and Tolentino. The COMELEC is made up of chairman Francisco Elizalde, Rep. Conrad Estrella and Br. Bernard Oca. The COMELEC said it will decide on an objection filed by a POC member on the candidacy of any aspirant under the POC Constitution and By-Laws and set a deadline for submission of objections on Nov. 2. The COMELEC was silent on deciding a protest filed in behalf of a disqualified candidate. Yesterday, ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio filed a protest before the COMELEC on Vargas’ disqualification.

A leak in the COMELEC ointment surfaced when Estrella, the House of Representatives chairman of the Youth and Sports committee, signed the COMELEC memorandum with “reservations” on the list of qualified candidates. Both Vargas and Tolentino were disqualified by the COMELEC “motu proprio.” Estrella wrote, “with reservations as to the real meaning of active participation of Article VII, Section 11 … we will be open to facts presented should there be any protest filed.”