The malicious attempt to besmirch Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr.’s reputation before the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has backfired on whomever thought it would tarnish the former Tarlac congressman’s good name.
Obviously, it was a political tactic by someone dying to challenge Cojuangco for the POC presidency or supporting a rival candidate in next year’s elections. What the eager beaver failed to realize was it only boosted Cojuangco’s stock in the OCA’s eyes. And it has made suspects of those thinking of running for POC president.
In fact, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah reacted to the cheap shot by appointing the other day Cojuangco as a special adviser to the prestigious body for his “knowledge, expertise and wisdom.” That surely put a crimp on the conspirators’ smear campaign.
POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said it’s not even sure if Cojuangco will seek a second term, what with talk that former president Cito Dayrit and even chairman Robert Aventajado may be interested in the position.
Cojuangco’s style is reconciliatory, not divisive. When he agreed to run for POC president three years ago, it was on condition there would be no opposition. Now that there is opposition looming in the horizon, he may just back out. Cojuangco doesn’t need the job nor the headache – he’d rather consolidate the troops, not contribute to a divided house.
Romasanta described the smear attempt as underhanded, premature and extreme. Of course, he’d like to get to the bottom of it and find out who faxed the letter to the OCA accusing Cojuangco of misusing the subsidy of $100,000 to relocate the POC office to the PhilSports Arena. But he’s not losing sleep over it.
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POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros is in Macau attending to the Philippine delegation at the Asian Indoor Games and might be able to identify the hatchet man. The fax was sent to Macau where the OCA is supervising the competitions in non-Olympic events like bowling, chess, wushu and three-on-three basketball.
Clearly, neither Dayrit nor Aventajado would stoop so low as to bring dishonor to the Philippines by trying to torpedo Cojuangco. Both are honorable gentlemen who will never compromise the country. Besides, talk of their interest in the POC presidency is unconfirmed.
So who stands to benefit by bringing Cojuangco down?
“Your guess is as good as mine,” said Romasanta. “But it could be someone who wants not only Mr. Cojuangco out but also Mr. (Manny) Pangilinan out as SBP president. It could be someone who has his sights on the POC and the SBP.”
The taint job was curiously reminiscent of how certain quarters tried to discredit the SBP by faxing negative press releases and commentaries to FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann in the wake of the POC’s decision to strip the BAP of NSA recognition last year.
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In my view, tracking down the malefactor would only trigger an unproductive and wasteful witchhunt. The fact that OCA has chosen to ignore the baseless accusation against Cojuangco is more than commensurate penalty for the culprit. Instead of splitting the ranks, the POC should move forward to prepare for the coming Southeast Asian Games and the Olympics next year.
“The elections are still a year away,” said Romasanta. “Our only concern is we should work together as one. Mr. Cojuangco isn’t even thinking of the elections because there are just too many priorities that must be addressed at the moment. The POC isn’t Mr. Cojuangco’s personal domain. We’re all in this together. Anyone who tries to smear Mr. Cojuangco is trying to smear the POC, Philippine sports and our country. I hope whoever is behind this realizes that.”
It’s wishful thinking to spare sports from politics. But for the sake of the hard-working Filipino athletes who proudly wear the national colors, there should be a moratorium on backstabbing, sowing intrigue and foisting hostile opposition on the incumbent POC leadership.
If there is to be mud-slinging, let it happen during the electoral campaign period with no washing of dirty linen in front of the international community. That much, the candidates and their supporters owe to the country. Then, we will know who don’t deserve to be POC president.