Time to move forward

Ricky Vargas’ sudden withdrawal as POC president was hardly unexpected. For over a year, he tried to reach out to the majority of the POC Executive Board and win them over. Vargas appointed his known detractors over close allies to sensitive positions, hoping the gesture would create the unity that is so important in inspiring athletes to perform to the best of their ability.

When it was apparent that the discord was impenetrable, Vargas tried the “iron fist” approach. It was his last card to bring everyone in line with the SEA Games only a few months away. But that, too, didn’t work. The gamble even worsened the chasm. 

The situation got so bad that even the timing of when to schedule the Executive Board meeting became a cause for debate. Imagine how the athletes must have felt with their sports leaders fighting over turf. News of bad blood spilling on the floor of a General Assembly meeting reached the IOC and a call was made to Vargas expressing concern. 

In the last General Assembly meeting he convened a few weeks ago, Vargas gave a hint of what was to come. “Transformation is difficult especially under these circumstances when our Board is not aligned philosophically,” he said. Since he had no control of the majority of the Executive Board, Vargas was doomed to be a lameduck, an untenable situation. Obviously, he wouldn’t be able to work under such stressful conditions.

The situation reached a critical point when the bank holding the POC account froze its money when some members of the Executive Board attempted to change the signatories without Vargas’ approval.  The freezing meant no payment of POC staff salaries and allowances to Olympic Solidarity beneficiaries until the resolution of who should be the authorized signatories.

Vargas took a step forward when in trying to settle the debate of who is empowered to call a legitimate Executive Board meeting, he cancelled his schedule and agreed to meet with his oppositors on the date they called.  He walked into the meeting alone at the POC office last Tuesday without his allies. POC chairman Rep. Bambol Tolentino and secretary-general Patrick Gregorio did not attend. It was at the meeting where Vargas tendered his resignation. To have insisted on his mandate would’ve been an exercise in futility since Vargas did not enjoy the support of the majority of the Board.

Now comes the challenge of the new administration. With Vargas gone, the least the new order should do is to preserve his legacy of professionalism, financial integrity and transparency. In leaving, Vargas had no intention of pulling back the money he brought in from the private sector – P50 million from San Miguel Corp., P20 million from the MVP Group and P6 million from the PBA. The money was donated to the POC, not to Vargas, so it will remain in the coffers for athletes, nobody else.

With Vargas at the helm, the POC was on the verge of receiving ISO (International Organization of Standardization) certification from Geneva. The new administration should continue this work to affirm the POC as a professionally-managed organization with the highest standards of efficiency. Vargas also brought back POC’s active status as a participant in Olympic Solidarity – that effort shouldn’t be compromised. 

Under the stipulations of the POC Constitution and By-Laws, the provision is to hold elections on the third Friday of an Olympic year. With Vargas’ departure, there is no need to amend the By-Laws and call for an earlier vote. The succession rule will be followed and first vice president Joey Romasanta has been elevated to take over from Vargas as president. Romasanta is used to the ins and outs of the POC so the experience will go a long way in mending fences all around. 

The time has come for peace in the POC. Wounds have been inflicted and they need to be healed. Vargas’ sacrifice of stepping down is a call for all sports leaders to get together, unite and work selflessly for the athletes. No one is indispensable in any organization, especially an organization like the POC which is the rallying point for all athletes to bring honor and glory to the country.