Poll body: Ricky Vargas, Abraham Tolentino to run for Philippine Olympic Committee head

POC Elections today

MANILA, Philippines — In a move that caught many by surprise, the POC election committee yesterday ruled that boxing chief Ricky Vargas and cycling president Abraham Tolentino should be allowed to run for POC president and chairman in today’s elections.

Frank Elizalde, who heads the three-man committee, said that while he is against it, there was no better thing to do than follow the court order.

The long-time International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines said the POC should let Vargas and Tolentino to vie in the elections.

“It’s my opinion to follow the dictates of the court although I’m totally against it. I don’t think he’s (Vargas) qualified, neither him nor Congressman Tolentino,” Elizalde told The Star.

“But the court has ordered it,” he said.

Elizalde, who just arrived from the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Wednesday evening, met the two other members of the election committee – Bro. Bernie Oca of La Salle and Atty. Alberto Agra.

Late in the afternoon, they issued an official statement, saying, “The POC election committee hereby rules to allow” Vargas and Tolentino to vie for the respective positions.

Even before the committee released its decision, Vargas hailed Elizalde for heeding the court order.

“I am relieved that Mr. Elizalde has seen it fit to comply with the court order. At the end of the day, we all need to act as responsible and law-abiding citizens who respect the rule of law,” said Vargas.

“Otherwise, we will have chaos. I hope the other two Comelec members will follow Mr. Elizalde’s example. Let us have elections, not dissensions. Our athletes are closely watching us. We need to act as mature leaders. Let us give the voters a chance to choose,” he added.

Cojuangco issued a very short statement.

“I am sad that the POC is holding an election (based) on a court order. I will inform the IOC (International Olympic Committee) about it,” said Cojuangco.

A couple of weeks ago, the IOC wrote the POC a letter, saying, “It was very unfortunate to note that disputes related to internal matters, including elections, which should have been resolved by and within your NOC (National Olympic Committee), were submitted to ordinary courts.”

The IOC reminded the POC that disputes such as this should have been settled internally and within the General Assembly.

Vargas will challenge Cojuangco for the presidency while Tolentino will face table tennis chief Ting Ledesma for the chairmanship.

The committee ruled that Ledesma is a qualified candidate, having met all the qualifications for the post.

It’s the same committee, except for one new member (Agra) that disqualified Vargas and Tolentino in 2016 due to their failure to establish themselves as active members of the POC General Assembly.

But it’s a different case now because there’s an order from the Pasig Regional Trial Court calling Cojuangco’s victory in the 2016 elections “null and void” and ordering today’s elections, with Vargas and Tolentino as candidates.If they defy the court order to hold the elections, the POC leadership or the members of the election committee will be cited for contempt.

Meanwhile, Rep, Mikee Romero of 1-Pacman Party-list also reiterated his call for the POC to push through with the elections, adding that the International Olympic Committee is closely monitoring the conduct of the polls.