Joseph gets POC nod as swim head

In the eyes of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Mark Joseph, and not Chito Ilagan, is the rightful president of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association.

Robert Aventajado, chairman of the POC, yesterday announced that the POC executive board has reaffirmed the 2004 election of Joseph based on the findings of the Olympic body’s arbitration committee.

The arbitration committee, headed by Aventajado and with the concurrence of POC legal counsel Emigidio Tanjuatco, "found that Joseph was qualified to be president of PASA and was indeed elected by the legitimate PASA board."

The said election was held in Cebu City last November after Joseph contested the legality of Ilagan’s tenure as president. Ilagan reportedly branded Joseph’s election as illegal.

"The commission also found that Ilagan, who was legitimately elected to the PASA top post in 2002, but systematically changed the composition of the PASA board gearing up for his ‘re-election’ in 2004 thus was elected by a board that had no authority to do so," the POC decision, signed by Aventajado, said.

"I’m greateful to the POC for resolving this matter. For us now, we want to move forward," said Joseph who has Olympians Akiko Thomson, Pinky Brosas and Ral Rosario behind him.

Ilagan could not be contacted for comment although sources close to him said he is considering filing an appeal. The source said the POC decision was different from an earlier agreement among the concerned parties.

The source claimed that what was originally agreed upon was for the POC to ask the two warring parties to agree to an election.

Going against Ilagan here is that he agreed to undergo POC arbitration and, therefore, should honor the verdict. It was not clear, however, if FINA, the world governing body in swimming, was informed of the arbitration process.

"He could appeal. And I’m open for reconciliation," Joseph added.

"We did nothing special. We examined their submitted documents, conferred with both parties and determined who was legally president of PASA based on their own constitution and by-laws," said Aventajado.