Elizalde slams feuding leaders

Frank Elizalde, the International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines, yesterday said that, instead of wasting so much time and energy on internal squabbles and personal differences, the country’s top sports leaders should focus on the challenges that lie ahead, particularly the forthcoming Asian Games in Busan, South Korea.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead. We have the Busan Asian Games, next year’s Vietnam SEA Games, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2005 SEA Games we are hosting. The bottom line is we can have our differences but only at a certain level," said Elizalde yesterday during the Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly in Makati.

"The main thrust is that we must cooperate and work for our country. Keep that in mind. Think like that. Think of the image we give to our fellow Filipinos. Let’s stand above the squabbling in our country, and in the government. Let’s show our countrymen that the POC is a respectable body. Let’s do this before we issue press releases or make comments. If we do this, we will achieve more," Elizalde said.

Elizalde delivered the strong message at the close of the general assembly, which, after tackling the country’s preparations for the Busan Games, spent almost 45 minutes deliberating on athletics chief Go Teng Kok’s motion to have Freddie Jalasco ousted from the POC executive board. Jalasco is former president of the Basketball Association of the Philippines.

Go’s motion, based on the fact that Jalasco no longer has a national sports association to represent, was trashed by POC chairman and taekwondo head Robert Aventajado.

"I had to disregard the motion because it was out of order. The POC constitution and by-laws have provisions that deal directly with this kind of matter – the removal of an elected officer. You need a two-third vote just to file the petition and once it is forwarded to the secretary-general, he would call for a special meeting. Then you need a three-fourths vote to oust the officer," said Aventajado.

The POC now has 36 regular voting members including that of lawn balls as the newest member and that of Elizalde. Therefore, Go would need to muster 24 votes to formally file the petition and 27 to oust Jalasco who, in the 2000 POC elections, earned 26 votes to emerge the No. 1 board member. Go lost to Celso Dayrit in that election, 11-22.

"Freddie Jalasco is not a sacred cow. He can be removed but we have to follow the proper procedure. Eh, di magpapirma siya (Go). Otherwise, Freddie remains with the POC," said Aventajado, who laughed off claims by Go’s group that they have the former Presidential Flagship Projects secretary on their side.

"Did you listen to the proceedings? Did you see how I handled it? At the end of the day, it’s the interest of the POC that stands and not the interest of an individual. We may have our differences but my loyalty lies on the interest of the POC. Kaibigan ko si Cito (Dayrit) pero kung may gagawin siyang masama sa POC, kalaban niya ako. Ganun din kay Go Teng Kok," said Aventajado.

Jalasco, for his part, said he is willing to go through the vote, saying, "Basta lagi ako sa what is legal. What he (Go) is asking is outside the constitution and by-laws of the POC. Pero kung talagang gusto niya ng ganoon, i-submit namin pareho sa pangalan namin sa general assembly. Kung sino mas kaunti ang boto talo at out sa POC. Hinahamon ko siya."

Three NSAs, except badminton and equestrian, were represented in yesterday’s general assembly.