Tac, Mikee seek top post in shooting body

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will be outside looking in as the Philippine National Shooting Association (PNSA) seeks a new president.

The PNSA might soon call for a special election following the resignation of Arturo “Art” Macapagal, whose term as president is supposed to end late next year.

But the association cannot work without a president, and there are already talks of an immediate election, with three names cropping up as Macapagal’s replacement.

They are PNSA lifetime member and former national team member Mikee Romero, multi-titled shooter Nathaniel “Tac” Padilla and current chairman Ildefonso “Boy” Tronqued.

Jose Romasanta, POC spokesperson, yesterday said while the local Olympic body would want to make sure everything goes on smoothly, they can only do so much in this case.

“My first concern is if the PNSA really needs to hold an election. Because if it has a vice president, then under the rule of succession he should take over as president,” said Romasanta.

James Chua is current vice president, but following Macapagal’s resignation last week he sounded like he was already supporting Romero’s bid for the PNSA presidency.

“Otherwise, if an election is really sought and called for, this will not be a regular election,” Romasanta said, mainly because it deals with the resignation of an incumbent president.

“This is not the kind of election that the NSA (national sports association) will have to serve notice to the POC regarding its constitution and by-laws. This will be treated as an internal matter within the PNSA.”

Romasanta said the election will be treated as an ordinary “board action.”

Romasanta, however, said he recently talked to Padilla, a veteran of 17 Southeast Asian Games, and winner of five gold medals, and the POC issued a reminder.

“I just reminded him that the PNSA should work within its constitution and by-laws regarding an election, and what is provided for by it,” said Romasanta.

The POC spokesman said he wants to see an election where the results will be acceptable to everyone.

Several NSAs have held elections in the past and only after the results came out came questions regarding the eligibility of certain candidates as well as the voting members.

“That’s why I am reminding the PNSA to make sure its constitution and by-laws are reviewed and followed before they hold such an exercise,” said Romasanta.