No derailing POC polls

MANILA, Philippines — It will take a constitutional amendment to set aside the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections on Nov. 27 and POC president Rep. Bambol Tolentino said yesterday nominations for a new COMELEC member to replace Rep. Eric Martinez are to be taken up at an Executive Board meeting on Monday.

Martinez was previously designated to join lawyer Teodoro Kalaw IV and IOC honorary member Frank Elizalde in the three-man COMELEC that will supervise the polls. Because Martinez is a House colleague of Tolentino who’s running for reelection, it was recently decided to choose a replacement. Kalaw, Elizalde and POC secretary-general Edwin Gastanes were scheduled to meet yesterday to set the election guidelines, including when to file candidacies and the duration of the campaign period.

Even as no one has officially filed to run, two tickets of opposing camps have surfaced. In Tolentino’s ticket are Tom Carrasco as chairman, Al Panlilio as first vice president, Mayor Richard Gomez as second vice president, Cynthia Carrion as treasurer, Chito Loyzaga as auditor and Pearl Managuelod, Dave Carter, Rep. Butch Pichay and Dr. Jose Raul Canlas as board members. Clint Aranas heads the other ticket as candidate for president. In his lineup are Steve Hontiveros as chairman, Philip Juico as first vice president, Ada Milby as second vice president, Julian Camacho as treasurer, Monico Puentevella as auditor and Robert Bachmann, Charlie Ho, Managuelod and Robert Mananquil as board members.

“There was a move to cancel or postpone the elections but it’s very clear in our constitution that the elections are to be held on the last Friday of November of the Olympic year,” said Tolentino. “Our constitution has IOC approval so it will take an amendment to cancel or postpone the elections. Depending on the COMELEC guidelines, we could do online balloting to accommodate voters who are out of town and unable to travel to Manila.” Voters are 51 NSAs plus IOC member Mikee Cojuangco and two representatives from the Athletes Commission.

Tolentino said the foundation of his ticket is based on performance and trust. “Trabahong tapat,” he said. “Our ticket is trusted by the sports, business and government communities. We’re aiming for a cooperative board to be united in pursuing reforms. This isn’t a political affair where candidates promise the moon and the stars to our NSAs. We stand by our achievements, action more than words. Look at our performance in the last SEA Games. And without PSC asking for it, I sponsored the Bayanihan 2 to restore the allowances of athletes and coaches. Right now, I’m focused on our budgets for the Olympics and the 2021 SEA Games. Tututukan natin ‘yan. We’re committed to support our NSAs in all their projects.”

Aranas said his platform is anchored on good governance, accountability and transparency. “My vision is for POC to go back to its roots, to be relevant, to make NSAs self-reliant and self-sustainable,” he said. “We don’t want to be totally dependent on PSC. As a corporate finance adviser and tax lawyer, I’ll put out sponsorship programs that are tax deductible and easy to pitch. Support will go directly to NSAs. I want a working board with lots of activity, a POC that’s close to every NSA. I believe in no barriers so when the elections are over, reconciliation will be an easy transition.” Bachmann said the ticket will launch help desks for NSAs on accounting and legal matters, open a room in POC for the Athletes Commission, reactivate “dead” standing committees in ethics, arbitration and ways and means and work as a collective body to lobby with IATF to resume sports, first for Olympic qualifiers and hopefuls and second, for other athletes.