Archers train arrows on Brawner

Nearly the entire Philippine archery team is crying foul over Dr. Leonora Brawner’s insistence to stay on as National Archery Association of the Philippines (NAAP) president despite tendering her irrevocable resignation in a formal letter two years ago.

To be sure, the uproar isn’t politically-motivated even as Brawner is a candidate in incumbent POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr.’s ticket in the polls on Nov. 28.

Archers spokesman Kit Cojuangco, who happens to be the POC president’s nephew, is leading the charge for justice and appealing for redress. In exasperation, he is knocking on media doors to air the athletes’ concerns after being repeatedly ignored by the POC powers.

The NAAP was recently placed under the microscope of the POC ethics committee which uncovered anomalies traced to the secretary-general – later expelled from the position because of evidence pointing to culpability and connivance with a discredited former PSC official.

Brawner was not implicated in the anomalies.

Cojuangco said after Brawner resigned, she had a change of heart and even appointed a new secretary-general Terry Lim without following constitutional procedures.

The NAAP is unlike many National Sports Associations (NSAs) in that it is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). No less than the IOC has ordered the POC to make sure that NSAs are duly registered with the SEC. It is presumed that after the elections, the IOC directive will be enforced strictly by either Cojuangco if he is reelected or Art Macapagal, his adversary.

Cojuangco – the archer – isn’t the only national player up in arms. As Philippine team captain, he is joined by a slew of others including high-profile archers Marvin Cordero, Amaya Paz and Jasmin Figueroa.

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The indignation went into high gear when Brawner, Lim and Dr. Juan Nanagas actively represented the NAAP in organizing the recent Asian Archery Grand Prix and the Southeast Asian Archery Championships. For a while, the archers threatened to boycott the events but because of primordial national interest, they decided to participate anyway.

“The recent competitions are not testimony to Dr. Brawner’s leadership,” said Cojuangco. “The success of the tournament was a collective effort. The success has no bearing on the legitimacy to vote and the legitimacy to continue holding office as so-called president of NAAP.”

In a letter to Brawner dated last Oct. 18, archers and NAAP officials put her on the hot seat.

“You have not made any report of your activities to the Board of Trustees or sought the latter’s approval and yet we understand that you had an active hand in organizing the Asian Archery Grand Prix and Southeast Asian Archery Championships and other undertakings in the name of NAAP without the authority of the latter,” they said.

“You have even engaged the services of some public relations firm regarding the same. We understand also that in connection with the above, you, Terry Lim and Dr. Juan Nanagas in conspiracy with each other, have been receiving funds in trust for NAAP from various sources and disbursing the same and yet not one of you has reported the same to the Board of Trustees of NAAP or turned over such funds to the Association or made any accounting of the same.”

When Brawner resigned, Cojuangco said vice president Dionisio Flores was elevated due to the rule of succession but opted out. An election was then held and Renato Bartolome was voted president and Siegfredo Velasquez, vice president. In place of Brawner and Nestor de Castro who resigned from the Board, Virginia Sering and Ruperto Sampoleo were elected to fill the vacancies. The changes are clearly reflected in minutes of NAAP Board meetings.

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Cojuangco said the POC is “muddling the issue by diverting rather than addressing the fact that the right of suffrage of a legitimate NSA is being suppressed and usurped by non-members of NAAP who enjoy the incumbent POC backing.”

Cojuangco made it clear that his group is not out to play politics.

“We, the archers, are not furthering the cause of any individual but rather for the clear implementation of the rule of law and the By-Laws of NAAP as approved by the SEC,” said Cojuangco. “We welcome the filing of appropriate charges against any NAAP official whom the POC feels embroiled in any anomaly. We only ask that the rule of law be observed, be maintained and not violated in the pursuit of a vested interest or hidden motive.”

Cojuangco said whoever wins the POC presidency must address this problem immediately.

“We are calling on the sports community to get involved,” said Cojuangco. “We must follow the rule of law and arbitration on the issues. We are not supporters of the former secretary-general. We are not involved in the POC elections. We think Dr. Brawner is just a puppet. The POC president never knew the whole truth. The people he chose are lying to him. We denounce anyone playing politics at the athletes’ expense.”

Cojuangco said Bartolome is the legitimate acting NAAP president and Brawner has no business representing NAAP in the coming POC elections because she no longer has the mandate to serve.

d their arrows are right on target.