Compromise to settle POC row?

MANILA, Philippines - It appears that a compromise may be the only solution to avoid a no-win situation where the Philippines could be suspended by the IOC for government intervention in the conduct of the POC elections on Nov. 25 with shelving personal ambitions for the national interest the way to take the high road in preserving the integrity of sports.

Lawyers of Rep. Abraham Tolentino and Ricky Vargas are on the verge of seeking redress from the courts to overturn a decision by the POC Comelec disqualifying the candidates for failing to comply with eligibility requirements that are subject to question. A Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is expected to be issued on or before Nov. 19. A Senate hearing may also be called before the elections to look into allegedly unwarranted PSC disbursements to the POC during the Aquino Administration and the “unjust” imposition of eligibility requirements on candidates in the POC elections.

While the TRO itself may not be grounds for the IOC to suspend the Philippines from participating in Olympic affairs and receiving benefits from IOC assistance programs, IOC honorary member Francisco Elizalde said the other day the situation could lead to a “dangerous direction.”

At the center of the row is the battle for the presidency between reelectionist Jose Cojuangco, Jr. and Vargas. Cojuangco, 82, is seeking a fourth consecutive four-year term while Vargas, 64, is in the forefront of a campaign for change. No doubt, both are formidable pillars in Philippines sports which could benefit from their partnership. A clamor for a compromise where they could both serve the POC seems to be gaining ground but for it to happen, there will be a price to pay which should be worth it.

A POC source said yesterday to appreciate the potentially delicate situation, “people have to be circumspect and open to reaching out.” The primary goal, he added, is to save the POC from turmoil. “The POC is not about people and must be respected as an institution,” he said. “Just because you don’t like the occupant, don’t burn the house. In any field of competition, the protagonists must know the rules of engagement. The eligibility rule on active membership has been in the By-Laws for years and the interpretation has been consistent. Even when the late Art Macapagal opposed Cong. Peping for the POC presidency in 2008, he respected the rule and attended General Assembly meetings on a regular basis to debate, discuss and be aware of developments.”

The source said there were two attempts to throw a monkey wrench on the POC elections by resorting to a TRO but none was ever served. “In 2008, the Macapagal group thought they had the numbers to beat Cong. Peping and even celebrated with a victory party the night before the elections,” said the source. “They had a TRO but it was never served. In 2012, Go Teng Kok also got a TRO but it was also never served. So getting a TRO is nothing new. There is a bigger consideration in this dispute. Remember this is the POC which stands for the Philippine Olympic Committee not the Peping Olympic Committee.”

The source pointed out that the POC By-Laws, as amended, were approved by the General Assembly in July 2008, by the IOC in January 2009 and cleared with the SEC in November 2011. “The POC is compliant all over,” the source added. “How can the POC violate its own rules? The TRO is no solution. The solution is the appreciation of the rules. I also think the TRO and the proposed Senate hearing would be an overkill. You’ll take up the same issues in both cases anyway.”

But Vargas’ spokesman Chito Salud said the rule is not the issue but the POC Comelec’s interpretation of the requirement of active membership. “The POC By-Laws do not contain any definition of ‘active member’ nor any clear guideline to determine active membership,” said Salud. “By insisting on attendance and physical presence in the General Assembly as the sole measure of a candidate’s activity, the POC Comelec is arbitrarily placing a restriction on eligibility where the rules provide none.”

Some quarters are pushing for a compromise where Cojuangco could serve as chairman and Vargas as president with the POC benefiting from the support of both camps in a win-win solution. There is now no candidate for chairman with the recent disqualification of Tolentino and reelectionist Tom Carrasco who was struck out for giving up the presidency of an NSA of an Olympic sport last August. The compromise would mean the POC Comelec retracting its interpretation of the eligibility rule on active membership – something the impending TRO will question anyway. Another compromise solution is for Cojuangco to serve as president for two years and Vargas to be elected first vice president on an interim basis then take over from Cojuangco after two years.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson said there is no basis to claim government interference in questioning the disqualification of Tolentino and Vargas. “It’s an election issue, not a sports issue,” he explained. “There is an unjust interpretation of a provision for qualification as a candidate by the POC Comelec. So the recourse is to seek redress in the courts. Our goal is for the POC to hold fair, honest and democratic elections. If the NSAs are happy with how Philippine sports has performed under 12 years of Mr. Cojuangco as POC president and vote for more of the same, then so be it. But if the NSAs are unhappy and want a change, then we offer Mr. Tolentino and Mr. Vargas as alternatives. They are active NSA presidents whose performance is reflected in the participation of their NSAs in various competitions. Why should they not be allowed to offer an alternative to the voters who want a change?”