Chaves assures fair forum

MANILA, Philippines - POC election committee chairman Victorico (Concoy) Chaves yesterday guaranteed that the candidates forum will be conducted in a fair and positive manner at the AVR Building of the Philsports Complex in Pasig on Thursday afternoon.

Chaves, Ricky Palou of Ateneo and Br. Bernard Oca of La Salle made up the election committee for the 2008 polls and were retained to oversee this year’s elections on Nov. 30 at the Alabang Country Club.

For the first time in the history of the once-in-four-years POC elections, a candidates forum will be held. Chaves said it will raise the level of the campaign to a discussion of issues, not personalities, and allow candidates to express to the 43 voters what can be expected of them if elected. The committee sent out letters of invitation to the 43 voters – IOC representative Frank Elizalde, the president and secretary-general of 40 regular voting NSAs and athletes commission representatives Harry Tañamor and Marestella Torres – last Nov. 7 with a note that “attendance is a must.”

No invitation will be sent to Go Teng Kok until the POC receives the Supreme Court Third Division ruling which upholds the Pasig Regional Trial Court presiding judge Rodolfo Bonifacio’s decision affirming his expulsion from the POC General Assembly and declaration as persona-non-grata as without due process and unconstitutional. Chaves said only if and when the POC Secretariat receives the document from the Supreme Court’s duly-authorized sheriff, Go will be qualified to run as president opposing incumbent reelectionist Jose Cojuangco Jr. The deadline for the order to be officially received by the POC is noon, Nov. 28. If the document is received before Thursday’s forum, Go will be allowed to participate as a qualified candidate.

Only POC chairman Monico Puentevella, seeking a second term, has signified he will not attend the forum but will submit a written discourse of his agenda if reelected. “Although I would love to be there to explain why I am running again for POC chairman, I regret to inform the committee that I have already agreed to join the PFF Board meeting in Cebu on that particular day two weeks ago and watch the friendly game between the Azkals and Singapore in the evening,” wrote Puentevella in a letter to Chaves. “As the FIFA representative, it is my responsibility to attend the PFF meetings here as much as possible and even in international meetings. If there is no postponement for this forum, I plan to send a written agenda on why I have decided to stand again for the same position I have held for four years. If it is postponed to another date, I intend to definitely be there.”

Reelectionist POC first vice president Manny Lopez, the convenor of the ticket opposing Cojuangco, confirmed his attendance. He welcomed the opportunity to speak before the voters. A Holy Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. before the forum. Then, Chaves will call the forum to order. Each candidate will be given five minutes to speak.

So far, only Mayor Bambol Tolentino of chess, former Rep. Prospero (Butch) Pichay of chess and Judes Echauz of sailing have not told the POC Secretariat if they’re attending or not. Tolentino is out of the country. Only Puentevella has sent word that he’s not attending. Confirmed to attend are candidate for chairman Tom Carrasco of triathlon, candidate for president Cojuangco of equestrian, candidates for first vice president Lopez of boxing and Joey Romasanta of karatedo, candidate for second vice president Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis, candidates for treasurer Romy Ribano of squash and Julian Camacho of wushu, candidate for auditor Godofredo Galindez of golf and candidates for executive board member Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics, Dave Carter of judo, Jonne Go of canoe-kayak, Victor Africa of fencing, Generoso Dungo of volleyball and Hector Navasero of baseball.

Tolentino is running for second vice president, Pichay for auditor and Echauz for executive board member.

Chaves said he will attend the “expanded” POC Board meeting on Wednesday and propose certain qualifying requirements for candidates in future elections. He mentioned two possible rules are to qualify only one candidate from an NSA and to require “active participation” of the NSA being represented. In the election committee meeting last Monday, Palou suggested “active participation” as a future requirement because the representative of an inactive or moribund NSA has no business running for an elective POC position. Chaves said he will define “active participation” if it is proposed as a requirement for future elections.

Meanwhile, Go said he finds it mysterious that the POC has not received the Supreme Court document. “The claim of not receiving the Supreme Court decision is so hard to believe,” he said. “Why not just ask the POC lawyers? It was sent by the Supreme Court Third Division dated Sept. 26. We, as respondent, received it and also judge Bonifacio of the Pasig Regional Trial Court and so the POC lawyers Luis Rivera and David Erro. The Supreme Court judicial records furnished us a copy of the document sent. It’s not my fault that the POC doesn’t have the copy. Is it an intentional ignorance or a delaying tactic to prevent my candidacy? Why is the POC afraid of my challenge?”