‘POC polls getting out of hand’

MANILA, Philippines - The forthcoming Philippine Olympic Committee elections should be nothing more than an exercise among “sportsmen and gentlemen.”

But at the rate it’s going, heading to the Nov. 30 elections, this seems to be a far-fetched idea, according to POC spokesperson Jose Romasanta.

“I’m one of those hoping this thing is over,” said Romasanta who rued the way certain quarters have gone to court in trying to protect their respective interests.

“We are misusing the courts in doing this,” he added after a group of table tennis officials recently sought a TRO (temporary restraining order) against another group.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes filed the TRO in a bid to prevent Ting Ledesma from voting in the elections as the POC-recognized president of the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap).

Trillanes is disputing the TATAP presidency.

Athletics chief Go Teng Kok is still awaiting the decision of the POC elections committee whether he is qualified to run and challenge incumbent president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco.

The elections committee met yesterday but did not say a word regarding Go’s status. Insiders said the committee will announce its decision on Monday.

“They are buying more time,” said GTK, who is also planning to file a TRO to prevent the POC elections from taking place once he is disqualified from the race.

Romasanta said he can’t understand why people are resorting to TROs when by doing so the POC runs the risk of being suspended by the International Olympic Committee.

“It’s unfair to the POC. This is sports. We should not be reduced to gutter politics. This is an election for a mere 43 members, and not 43 million people,” he said. 

“Baka kung saan na mapunta ito (This may get out of hand),” he warned.