Vargas named Olympic body concom chief

MANILA, Philippines — Newly elected Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has tapped his predecessor, Ricky Vargas, as chair of the constitutional amendments commission as he named his appointees to key positions.

Tolentino, the cycling head and Tagaytay congressman who won last Sunday’s special elections, tasked boxing chief Vargas with the body that will tackle charter changes in the POC. Vargas, who stepped down last June, will have Rep. Butch Pichay of chess, Atty. Alberto Agra of obstacle sports, Chito Loyzaga of baseball, Mayor Richard Gomez of fencing and Atty. Wharton Chan of kickboxing as members of his commission.

Tolentino made Gen. Lucas Managuelod of muay thai as head of the membership and accreditation commission, the group that determines which association deserves POC recognition. Valeriano Floro of golf, POC general manager Arturo Aro and Avelino Sumagui of cycling comprised Managuelod’s commission.

The POC prexy also reinstated Patrick Gregorio as secretary-general, a post he served under Vargas’ presidency, with Gomez as deputy while assigning Agra as chief legal counsel with Sumagui as assistant legal counsel.

He likewise retained Vargas’ communications director Ed Picson and designated Rep. Chiqui Roa-Puno as POC spokesperson.

Tolentino, who beat athletics’ Philip Ella Juico in the voting held with guidance from the International Olympic Committee and Olympic Council of Asia, was supposed to present his appointments yesterday in a board meeting that didn’t reach a quorum.

Only Tolentino, chairman Steve Hontiveros, immediate past president Vargas, board member Cynthia Carrion and reinstated Gregorio attended, with former IOC representative to Philippines Frank Elizalde also on hand but as a guest.

“I’m calling another board meeting on Aug. 9,” said Tolentino, who said he was also compelled to set a general assembly on Aug. 13 at Diamond Hotel to address the issues.