Ricky Vargas to meet national athletes, coaches

MANILA, Philippines — After doing the rounds of Malacañang, the Senate and the House of Representatives, up next for new POC president Ricky Vargas is a dialogue with the national athletes.

“Very soon,” said POC secretary-general Pato Gregorio yesterday, adding that Vargas had already thought of sitting down with the athletes and coaches after the Holy Week.

Vargas assumed the POC presidency after beating Jose Cojuangco during the Feb. 23 elections, and said his call for change in the local Olympic body is anchored on the athletes.

“We are here for the athletes. That’s what we’re going to work on,” said Vargas.

Days after his election, Vargas and new POC chairman Abraham Tolentino took their oaths before President Duterte in Malacanang, and prior to that they met Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The boxing icon heads the Senate committee on sports. In his meeting with Vargas and Tolentino Pacquiao promised his continued support to Philippine sports.

The other day, the top POC officials, including Gregorio, his deputy Karen Caballero and communications director Ed Picson, met with members of the House of Representatives.

Welcoming the POC officials were House committee on youth and sports chairman Rep. Conrado Esrtella III, Rep. Chiqui Roa-Puno and Rep. Manny Lopez, former head of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines.

Other congressmen who met Vargas were Rudy Fariñas, Mark Sambar, Roel Pacquiao, Eric Pineda and Mikee Romero.

“We are deeply honored and humbled by the warm welcome. We pledge to do everything to not let Congress and the country down. We hope the partnerships we are building will be sustained and would redound to a renewed commitment to sports excellence among our people,” said the new POC chief.