Poll reset; POC insists on old pact: PABA runs into ‘squeeze play’

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (PABA) has postponed yesterday’s scheduled elections to Jan. 2014 but named executive vice president Ely Baradas as acting president in compliance with the association’s line of succession.

According to PABA chairman Dr. Emmanuel Angeles, they moved the polls a month later “upon the request of secretary general Tom Navasero.” But he said the regional directors acted to fill the vacuum in leadership following the death of former president Hector Navasero.

“We confirmed Ely Baradas as acting president by virtue of the PABA Constitution and by-laws, which state that in case of death, incapacity or resignation of the president, the EVP will assume position,” Angeles said.

Baradas will serve until the association elects its new set of officers next month.

Philippine Olympic Committee’s recognition, however, is not forthcoming.

“The agreement (among baseball stakeholders and the POC) was that they should get as many stakeholders involved and fix the PABA Constitution and by-laws first,” said POC vice president Joey Romasanta.

The Olympic body, he stressed, “would not recognize any election until such time the PABA complies with the requirements.”

If he won’t get POC’s imprimatur, Baradas said: “Ano’ng magagawa namin? (What can we do?) We’ll just be private citizens but we’ll go on with our baseball activities.”

As this developed, other members of the PABA board have reportedly “initiated a reorganization” and installed Marty Eizmendi as acting president.

Angeles and Baradas twitted this.

“That’s illegal. How can that be the PABA board if we’re not included there? Do they have regional representation?” they said.

Romasanta maintained the POC is not dipping its hands into the PABA affairs. “Wala kaming pinapaboran dito (We don’t side with anybody here),” he said. “All we want is for PABA to put things in order and get as many involved.”