Chaves assures fair POC elections

Former Misamis Oriental Rep. Victorico (Concoy) Chaves yesterday vowed to exert all efforts in making sure the Nov. 28 elections in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will be fair.

Chaves said he has met separately with presidential contenders Jose Cojuangco Jr. and Art Macapagal to guarantee the impartial polls. He heads the POC commission on elections whose members are Bro. Bernie Oca of La Salle and Ricky Palou of Ateneo.

There are 10 elective positions in the POC - chairman, president, first vice president, second vice president, treasurer, auditor and four members of the Board. The secretary-general is an appointive position. In all, the Board is made up of 11 members, including the IOC representative Frank Elizalde. A 12th slot is provided for the immediate past POC president.

Chaves said the Comelec will prepare 40 ballots with the printed names of the candidates to facilitate the secret voting. Only 40 voters are eligible in the polls.

“It is not for the Comelec to determine the eligibility of voters,” said Chaves. “We will rely on the POC secretary-general (Steve Hontiveros) to provide us with the list of eligible voters and eligible candidates. If there are questions raised on eligibility, then we will convene to deliberate.”

Chaves said it will not be timely to settle leadership disputes in National Sports Associations (NSAs) with the elections a month away.

“My thinking is we’ll stay with the status quo because any decision to resolve a dispute at this time may be construed to be politically motivated,” said Chaves who is also chairman of the POC arbitration committee. “After the POC elections, we will prioritize the settlement of dispute cases. From the arbitration point of view, we will come in only when two opposing parties seek our mediation.”

Chaves disclosed that the other day, he met Macapagal in a one-on-one lunch.

“Art told me his intention to run is not for the position but to initiate the implementation of his program,” said Chaves. “We talked about several issues. I assured him the elections will be fair and there will be no ‘dagdag-bawas.’”

Chaves said his previous association with Cojuangco and the Macapagal family assures his impartiality.

“I worked over 10 years with Peping in Congress and I served in the POC ethics committee with Art so I know them both very well,” noted Chaves. “Many years ago, Peping and I were with President Arroyo in Toronto to discuss her presidential campaign. I was involved in several meetings where we organized the political party Kampi to launch her candidacy. I remember it was Amado (Bagatsing) who suggested the party name. So you could say I’m close with both Peping and the Macapagal family.”

Chaves said the qualification of candidates is determined by the provisions in the POC constitution and by-laws. The chairman and president, for instance, must be presidents of NSAs of an Olympic sport with at least a history of four years in office.

The case of softball chairman Harry Angping possibly running for POC vice president may be subject to question, continued Chaves.

“Softball is no longer an Olympic sport and will not be in the London calendar,” said Chaves. “The position of POC vice president is open to the president, vice president or secretary-general of an NSA of an Olympic sport with at least two years in office. That’s because in the event the POC president is incapacitated, the vice president moves up so that he would have to represent an Olympic sport.”

As for former POC president Celso Dayrit’s case before the POC ethics committee, Chaves said two hearings have been held to review the charges and rebuttals. Elizalde is currently out of the country and the committee will reconvene upon his return. Another committee member Jun Factoran has inhibited himself from the deliberations. A position paper was recently submitted by Dayrit’s lawyers and it will be studied carefully before member Chippy Espiritu turns in a report on the committee’s findings.

Dayrit was accused of failing to liquidate advances from the IOC and PSC regarding the training of fencers in China. He has turned over a check for $7,500 to settle the IOC account.

Chaves said he is hoping for a quick settlement of the issue.

“It’s unfair to Cito to keep this hanging because we want to give him the opportunity to clear his name as soon as possible,” said Chaves.