Gutierrez elected new PFF head

MANILA, Philippines — Bukidnon Football Association executive John Anthony Gutierrez has been tasked with leading Philippine football moving forward.

Gutierrez earned the nod of the Philippine Football Federation’s regional associations and voting clubs to succeed long-time president Nonong Araneta yesterday.

Former owner of the Pachanga Diliman FC and major backer of the University of the Philippines’ football squad, Gutierrez won a three-way race for the post against Stallion Laguna FC owner Fil Alquiros and Davao South FA president Henry Sabate during the PFF Extraordinary Congress and Elections at The Bellevue in Muntinlupa.

Gutierrez will hold the post for the next four years, facing the challenge of sustaining the gains from the success of the Filipinas and previously the Azkals in Araneta’s three terms and bringing Philippine football to greater heights.

Araneta was elected as interim president in 2010 following the ouster of Mari Martinez. He was given a fresh mandate in 2011, won a second term in 2015 and re-elected to a third and last in 2019.

Aside from Gutierrez, the PFF also elected Butuan Vice Mayor and Butuan-Agusan Norte FA chief Lawrence Lemuel Fortun as first vice president and Oriental Mindoro FA’s Jay Adriatico as second vice president.

Isabelle Fernando was picked as female member; Rufino Arellano, Virgilio Imperial, Lovely Tababa and Alvin Yalung as Luzon members; Elmer Gallardo, Rodney Orale, Renee Songalia and Roceller Sumbillo as Visayas members; and Irvin Banga, Gemayel Gampong, Stephen Gorgonio and Damsel Merced as Mindanao members.