POC won't recognize PhilCycling elections

The Philippine Olympic Committee will not send a representative to the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) elections this Saturday at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City.

Go Teng Kok, special assistant to POC president Jose Cojuangco, said the results of the said elections will not and cannot be recognized by the POC because it failed to meet certain requirements.

“The POC must be formally informed of any NSA (national sports association) election 15 days before, and in this case, they only informed the POC on Jan. 6 so its already a violation,” said Go.

The POC executive board tackled the issue last Wednesday and Go said yesterday that “one hundred percent that the POC will not send a representative on Saturday.”

He said POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros has already informed PhiCycling about their move.

Last Dec. 13, an election took place among cycling officials, and Rolando Hiso was voted president of PhilCycling, an exercise boycotted by the group that will hold its own elections Saturday.

Bert Lina is no longer seeking re-election as PhilCycling president on Saturday.

Among those in the running are Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, former cycling champion Modesto Bonzo and Danao City Councilor Boying Rodriguez.

PhilCycling vice president Paquito Rivas, another ex-champion, said they will not allow Hiso’s group to take over the association, and even threatened to take the POC to court if it recognizes the latter.

“We will not allow them (Hiso’s group) to take over the affairs of the PhilCycling,” said Rivas.“They are not members of the federation and they refused to get a sanction from the PhilCycling in their tournaments.”