Lhuillier group up in arms vs new officers

MANILA, Philippines -  The Unified Tennis Group (UTG) led by sports patron Jean Henry Lhuillier has questioned the election of lawyer Antonio Cablitas as new president of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Lhuillier’s group did not participate in the elections held last Friday, saying “it violated several rules in conducting an election” as required by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The UTG said Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez, the Philta president being recognized by the POC, should have been the one to call for the election, and not any other member of the Philta board.

Lhuillier’s group also questioned the manner by which Cablitas, who served as Philta vice president in the 1980s and current Presidential Adviser on Investments, became a member of the board of trustees.

Seven of the 12 board members were present during the elections, including former Philta presidents Salvador Andrada, Dr. Pablo Olivarez and Manuel Misa, joined by Martin Misa (elected vice president), Edna Olivarez-Nguyen (treasurer), Romeo Magat (secretary-general) and Cablitas.

Aside from Lhuillier and Olivarez (the mayor), the three other board members who boycotted the elections were former Philta  chief Julito Villanueva, his son Randy Villanueva and Gerard Maronilla.

“We did not participate in the recent election because it violated several rules in conducting an election. Even the Philippine Olympic Committee did not participate and is  not recognizing the results,” Lhuillier said.

Cablitas said he has great plans and programs for Philta, including solid and year-round programs that call for more tournaments nationwide, but stressed that because of the recent developments, forging unity is now his priority.

“I am reaching out to them (UTG). I am calling for unity. Let us all work together or tennis will suffer. I will pursue this call for unity,” Cablitas told The STAR yesterday.

The POC did not send a representative to the elections because it said certain requirements were not met. The POC also said it does not have in its possession records that would establish Cablitas, Lhuillier, Maronilla and the younger Misa as Philta board members.

Magat said they have the documents proving that Cablitas, Lhuillier, Maronilla and Misa are legitimate members of the board, and will submit them to the POC as soon as possible.

“We have strongly questioned the timing and the manner of appointment of Atty. Cablitas as Mr. (Bobby) Ortiz’s replacement.  It happened too quickly and just a few weeks prior to the elections. Our main question here is, how can Atty. Cablitas run and what is his program for Philippine tennis?” said the younger Villanueva.

“The fact that even the incumbent president did not participate in the recent elections just shows what a mockery it was,” said Maronilla.

Olivarez was elected to a three-year term as Philta president in 2014 but decided to step down in 2016 after he was re-elected as mayor of Parañaque. To avoid a vacuum in leadership, an election was promptly held, and Andrada regained the top post.

Lhuillier questioned the results of the 2016 exercise, leading to an impasse and a leadership dispute that has rocked the sport the past year – and heading to the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.