POC vows to resolve swimming woes soon

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee is in no rush trying to resolve the long-running leadership dispute within the Philippine Swimming, Inc. (PSI).

POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros said the three-man committee put up by the POC to look into the matter is making sure things are done in proper perspective.

“We will follow everything to the letter,” Hontiveros told The STAR. He said while there’s no timetable set, the committee is not going to sit on it.

The PSI recently held an election in Bacolod, where former national swimmer Ral Rosario was elected president, and one who would take over Mark Joseph.

But the POC did not recognize the results of the exercise because certain rules on NSA (national sports association) elections were not followed.

Former International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde has been tapped to head the committee that includes lawyer Charlie Ho and Hontiveros.

The committee will soon sit down to set the guidelines, and determine the membership.

“We will identify the stakeholders and members and from there we can call a meeting based on the PSI constitution and by-laws,” said Hontiveros.

The assembly is open to any legitimate swimming group within the country, and that may include members of the fast-growing Philippine Swimming League (PSL) headed by former national swimmer Susan Papa and former senator Nikki Coseteng.

Hontiveros said once the membership is finalized, the 15-seat board of trustees will be filled up, and then the trustees will later on elect the officers.

“I know we cannot please everybody but we will do our best to clean this up,” said Hontiveros, adding that the process should not affect the preparations for this year’s SEA Games.