PABA elects new officers but will POC send rep?

MANILA, Philippines - The newly formed board of the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (Paba) convenes today to elect its officers at Corinthian Building in Makati City hopeful it would finally end the association’s leadership crisis.

The stakeholders formed a 12-man board of trustees composed of Ely Baradas, Felipe Remollo, Martin Cojuangco, Pepe  Munoz, Raul Saberon, Norman Macasaet, Rich Cruz, Vince Alimurong, Kanifuni Itakura, Roselito Bernardo, Chuck Guinto and Mel Gecolea with three more slots will be filled in.

The group will choose from among themselves the new president to succeed the late Hector Navasero, who served the position for 26 years until his death early this year.

Through Remollo, the group has requested the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to send an observer to the meeting-election and eventually approve the results. Previous attempts at an election by the former Paba officers weren’t recognized by the POC, which has required the association to open the doors to stakeholders and draft a new constitution.

“The POC should send a representative in this election,” said Baradas, the former vice president.

He said they have complied with the POC’s requirements, stating that various baseball leagues/clubs are in on this and that a new Paba charter is already up for approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.