Battle lines to be drawn soon for POC polls

Just as tight, heated and exciting as the national elections last May will be the POC elections in November.

After the name of equestrian president and former congressman Jose "Peping" Cojuangco came out as a challenger to incumbent president Celso Dayrit, the country’s top sports leaders are expected to, this early, begin weighing their votes for the next president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Tennis chief Buddy Andrada was the first to voice his opinion.

Andrada said there are three big reasons why his fellow sports officials should pick Cojuangco, father of 2002 Busan Asian Games equestrian gold medalist Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, over Dayrit who, like most first-term presidents, wants a second term.

First, Andrada said, Cojuangco has strong chances of winning. Second, he can help unify Philippine sports — from the national sports associations, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the POC. And third, he can use his government connections to ensure a more successful staging of the Philippine SEA Games next year.

Cojuangco is scheduled to appear in today’s PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion to formally announce his candidacy. Andrada said Mikee is coming along.

Dayrit, the fencing president, became POC chief after then presidential daughter Cristy Ramos Jalasco was unceremoniously ousted in 1999. The following year, Dayrit ran against athletics president Go Teng Kok (22-11 with three abstentions) and won a four-year mandate.

Dayrit’s reign, however, was not as smooth as he probably expected. Differences with some sports leaders regarding sensitive issues have created some air of animosity within the sports family. Dayrit has tries his best to sort things out, but can only do as much.

His mobile phone was unattended as of presstime. But the last time he was asked about the next POC elections, Dayrit’s answer was: "The Olympics is in August."

There are 36 voting members in the POC. And a full ticket from both parties will split the house to 11-11, leaving 14 votes open. Andrada said among the 14 are badminton, golf, tennis, basketball, weightlifting and athletics.

Except for badminton, headed by former First Lady Amelita "Ming" Ramos, the rest are deemed close with GTK who, reports said, is one of those behind Cojuangco’s candidacy. Despite his flare for controversy, GTK remains one of the most influential figures in RP sports with a following of close to 10 NSA heads.

Mrs. Ramos admitted having abstained in the last POC elections after both Dayrit and GTK played a part in the ouster of her daughter Cristy.

Andrada, at first, was considered as a potential candidate but had to beg off just recently because of health reasons. Taekwondo’s Robert Aventajado was also considered but had backed off because of, sources said, too much politics in sports.

Go had said many times before that he is no longer interested in the top POC post and would rather concentrate in his field of athletics. In the last two staging of the SEA Games, athletics has emerged as the most bemedalled sport for the country and GTK would want to keep it that way.

So, here comes Cojuangco, the worthiest of challengers.