Another no-show by POC rebel group

The group seeking the ouster of Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit yesterday snubbed the POC executive board meeting where they were supposed to air their side regarding their "boycott"of the local Olympic body’s general assembly last Jan. 30 in Makati City.

"We already reached out to them and gave them the opportunity to explain themselves," said Dayrit, referring to the group, under athletics chief Go Teng Kok, that did not show up for the luncheon meeting at the Manila Yacht Club.

"But I will continue to reach out to them and I will not close the door to anyone," Dayrit added.

Sixteen National Sports Associations (NSAs) were not represented during the POC’s first general assembly of the year although six of them - wushu, golf, equestrian, football, weightlifting and karate - have already explained their absence to Dayrit. They said their failure to attend the GA does not mean that they are part of the "boycott."

Of the 10 NSA leaders who were invited to explain yesterday, only Filomeno "Boy" Codiñera of softball and Louie Gelpuela of volleyball showed up. Codiñera had earlier said he is not supporting the move to oust Dayrit but nevertheless was invited to, and attended the meeting.

"I was absent (in the GA) but I was also not at Sheraton (where Go’s group met separately). Neutral kami dito sa volleyball. There is a problem when people do not work together. We are willing to work with the POC. There is no perfect leadership. But if everybody is adversarial, nothing can be achieved," Gepuela said in his explanation.

The eight NSA heads who met separately at the Intercon Hotel in Makati yesterday morning were Go, Manuel Ribo of wrestling, Sultan Jamalul Kiram of pencak silat, Mario Tanchangco of sepak takraw, Robert Aventajado of taekwondo, Tiny Literal of basketball, Rey Jaylo of judo and Buddy Andrada of tennis.

Go and his group then decided not to attend the executive board, saying they resented the manner they were asked by Dayrit to explain their absence in the GA. "The whole group was unhappy. That was the consensus during meeting," said Go.

He quoted Andrada as saying "Useless pumunta. Baka away lang. Pag-usapan na lang sa susunod na general assembly (probably in March)."

Dayrit sent invitations to the 10 NSA heads regarding yesterday’s meeting, saying they needed to explain their absence in the GA. "Doing so (boycotting the GA) is remiss of their responsibilities as NSA heads and definitely is not in keeping the spirit of Olympism,"he said.