'Dialogue may end cycling dispute'

MANILA, Philippines - Philip “Popoy” Juico, who now heads one of the two factions within the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, yesterday called for a dialogue that could finally end the long-running dispute in the sport.

“I’m calling for a dialogue. I’m ready for a dialogue,” said Juico, the former chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, who recently took over the position vacated by Col. Arnulfo Taberdo.

“We are ready to talk things over with the group of (Tagaytay City) Mayor (Abraham) Tolentino if only to have peace and unity in cycling,” said Juico during the Scoop sa Kamayan forum.

Juico said the dialogue may eventually lead to an election that should settle once and for all who the rightful head of Philcycling is, and who deserves recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee.

“Whatever it takes. We will look at the framework. We’re here to be part of the solution, and not the problem. We don’t want to create any problem for the POC, the International Olympic Committee and everyone,” he said.

But Juico’s call for a dialogue and possibly an election did not sit well with Tolentino, whose group is the one being recognized by the international federation, the Union Cycliste Internationale or UCI.

Tolentino said he agreed to the staging of the unified tryouts to determine the RP representatives to the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November, but not on anything that involves the leadership.

“I’m amenable to the unification of the athletes, for the sake of the athletes. But not with regards to the officials. We are the only recognized officials by the UCI,” Tolentino said yesterday.

Because of the leadership dispute, 13 Filipino cyclists were barred from competing in the 2009 Laos SEA Games, and Juico said he doesn’t want the same thing to happen in the coming Asian Games.

The group which Juico joined is the group that’s being recognized by the POC. It used to have businessman Mikee Romero as president before Taberdo came in and assumed the presidency.

The POC, under Jose Cojuangco Jr., said the other day that an election could be the only solution to the problem.

“We don’t need a patch-up work here just for the Asian Games. What we need here is a permanent solution. They should come together, settle their membership and and by-laws,” said RP Team chef-de-mission Jose Romasanta.

“If we were able to do that, we can talk and really unite and work together in the interest of our cyclists in particular and the country in general,” said Juico.