MANILA, Philippines — The numbers were not there but the message was delivered just the same as sports leaders, including Philippine Swimming League (PSC) chairman Nikki Coseteng, rallied against Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco yesterday.
Two large banners that read “Peping Resign” greeted the rallyists, numbering close to a hundred, including children, inside the historic Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) president Edgardo Cantada stood at the forefront of the exercise although it was Coseteng, a former senator and a staunch critic of Cojuangco, who provided the fireworks.
Coseteng delivered a one-hour declamation, citing the ails of Philippine sports and the alleged shortcomings of the current POC leadership, practically the same lines she forcefully delivered during a Senate hearing in November last year.
“There is no such thing as a perfect system,” Coseteng said, “but those leading the POC are not qualified.”
Also in attendance were former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Aparicio Mequi, PSL president Susan Papa, Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) head Marcia Cristobal and former Philippine Football Federation (PFF) president Johnny Romualdez.
“This is not a personality issue. But change is coming.The POC must be sanctioned and the PSC has the right to do that,” added Coseteng.
PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez, another Cojuangco critic, led a separate rally at Fuente Osmeña in Cebu City, also calling for Cojuangco’s ouster as POC president.
Cojuangco had just returned from Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, where Filipino athletes are still vying in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, with two gold medals won so far.