Unopposed, Cojuangco wins third term as POC prexy

MANILA, Philippines - Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, Jr. won a third term as Philippine Olympic Committee president unopposed and carried with him his allies to a landslide victory in a polling done at the Alabang Country Club today.

Although without a foe after chief rival Go Teng Kok of athletics withdrew on the eve of the elections, Cojuangco's vote was still counted and he drew 32 votes, the most garnered in an endeavor that lasted about five hours.

Triathlon's Tom Carrasco, karatedo's Joey Romasanta, soft tennis' Jeff Tamayo, wushu's Julian Camacho and chess' Prospero Pichay, Jr. beat their rivals and will assume the posts of chairman, first vice president, second vice president, treasurer and auditor, respectively.

Of Cojuangco's allies, Carrasco came out with the closest victory as he beat incumbent chairman Monico Puentevella of weightlifting, 21-18, while the rest won by a mile including Romasanta's 24-16 win over boxing's Manny Lopez.

Tamayo won over chess and cycling's Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino, 24-15, Camacho against squash's Romeo Ribano, 28-12, and Pichay over Godofredo Galindez, Jr. of golf, 28-12.

Judo's Dave Carter,. canoe-kayak's Jonnie Go, gymnastics' Cynthia Carreon and sailing's Ernesto Echauz, all running in Cojuangco's group, emerged the winning board of directors by garnering 29, 29, 28 and 23 votes, respectively.

Fencing's Victor Africa (13), volleyball's Generoso Dungo (16) and baseball's Hector Navasero (nine) did not make the cut.

A total of 43 votes -- 40 national sports associations, two athletes' representatives and International Olympic Committee representative to the country Frank Elizalde -- were cast out with 40 counted and three declared invalid.

Long jumper Marestella Torres and former boxer Harry Tanamor represented the national athletes and cast their votes in their behalf.

After the elections, Cojuangco said it is time move on.

"Winner is Philippine sports, time to think of the Olympics now and how to win the country's first gold medal there," said Cojuangco.

There were some ramblings before the election that either did not prosper or just panned out completely.

Reports that Lopez will be disqualified if he will not vote for his group -- the Amateur Boxing Association of the Phl -- but eventually was given the green light for the group headed by Ricky Vargas and known sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan to vote for the association and run.

There were also text mesages being circulated that an injunction from the court had come out preventing the group of Ting Ledesma from casting a vote and running in the polls.

But in the end, the group was allowed to vote by the POC election committee composed of Victorico Chaves, Ricky Palou and Bro. Bernie Oca, FSC.

Accusation of vote -buying was also levelled at Puentevalla but the outgoing POC chair vehemently denied this and called it as a "demolition job."

Lopez and Puentevella took the loss like gentlemen and said the next move is to work together.

"I congratulate them for winning and we have to respect the decision of the majority," said Lopez.

"First I congratulate them, Peping Cojuangco got his way," said Puentevella. "All of us are one in wishing Phl sports well and I wish everyone well."

Cojuangco hinted appointing Steve Hontiveros as his secretary-general.

He also took a potshot at the media and accused them of making up "these scandals."

"This is not politics. Hard to believe certain statements made by media. All these scandals are media creation," he said.

Cojuangco became POC president by acclamation in 2004 and earned a second term by beating Art Macapagal, then head of the shooting association, four years ago.

The former congressman from Tarlac and uncle of President Aquino said a third term as head of the local Olympic body will be the culmination of his life in sports.

It all began in the 1970s when Cojuangco headed the golf association. Then he shifted his involvement to bowling and is currently the chief of the equestrian federation.

Go stood up against Cojuangco after businessman and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan withheld his plans to seek the POC presidency.

The athletics chief was disqualified because of his POC status as persona-non-grata, and is all set to secure a TRO (temporary restraining order) in a bid to stop the elections.

But Go had a sudden change of heart, saying he’s had enough of the troubles. He also bared his plans to step down as chief of the athletics association he has led the past 23 years.