GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS THE ANSWER TO PHILIPPINE SPORTS

COURTESY OF MANILATIMES.NET

The senate hearing conducted by Senator Manny Paccquiao last November 29, 2016, once again, highlighted the different forms of corruption perpetrated by no less than the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Corruption, as revealed through the senate hearing, not only pertained to money matters but to sports management as well.

The revelations of former Senator Nikki Coseteng, PBC President Gullermo Mallilin and ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson all point out the fact that corruption in Philippines sports takes on many forms. While money remains the main component of corruption in Philippine sports, the grave abuse of power and authority and gross mismanagement of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) cannot to be disregarded and taken lightly as forms of corruption.

Thus, the solution to the problems of Philippine sports must truly be total and complete. Cutting off the funding of POC will simply not do. The disenfranchisement of national federations, the prohibition of certain athletes to join the national team and IOC-sanctioned events and perpetuation of Cojuangco as POC president will continue even if POC funding comes to a complete stop. A total revamp of POC remains as the most viable solution to Philippine sports. And that will entail the removal of all the people in POC. Government must face the challenge of removing the very people who cause all the problems in Philippine sports. And that can only happen through a strong and decisive action coming from the government no less.

IOC STATEMENT ON TERM OF OFFICE OF A NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT

courtesy of olympic.org

Dear Eric,

Thank you for your email. It depends on the Statutes / Constitution of each National Olympic Committee (NOC). The Olympic Charter does not impose any specific limitation of the number of terms for the NOCs office-bearers. It is up to each NOC to decide for itself (in their respective Statutes / Constitutions).

We hope this helps.

Best regards,

The Media Relations Team

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Château de Vidy,

1007 Lausanne, Switzerland

Tel. +41 (0)21 621 6000

THE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FIGHT OF RICKY VARGAS

courtesy of spin.ph

What truly makes the fight of Ricky Vargas extremely hard to win is the fact that those who ran before him fulfilled the active member rule.

According to a POC official, Art Macapagal and Go Teng Kok both fulfilled the active member rule when they ran for president in previous POC elections. Both, according to the same POC official, attended the POC General Assemblies regularly. Both were presidents of their respective national federations when they ran. Hence, they were allowed to run by the POC Election Committee.

The same POC official likewise said that the active member rule has been in effect since 1999. But interestingly, in a previous statement, he said that the amendments of the POC charter were only submitted to IOC in 2008.

Nonong Araneta too just adds confusion to the whole issue as he actively participates in the controversy. In his last foray, Araneta zeroes in on the term of office of Peping Cojuangco as POC president. Little does Araneta know that the NOC president of Croatia has been in office for the last 20 years. Zlatko Matesa has just been elected to his fifth term as president of the Croatian Olympic Committee. IOC itself does not set  limits to the term of office of NOC presidents.

Indeed, the fight of Vargas becomes difficult as he and his people refuse to examine past and present events. It will serve Vargas and his people well to research and consult people in the know. Peping and his men are just too smart to be outwitted by people who have nothing to offer but simple rantings that lack research.

POC PRESIDENT PEPING COJUANGCO : SOBRA NA, TAMA NA, PALITAN NA

courtesy of The Professional Heckler

Bumulusok pababa ang Philippine sports simula nang umupo bilang Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president si Jose Cojuangco Jr.

Bukod sa pagbaba ng bilang ng medalya ng Pilipinas sa Asian Games at Olympics, gumulo ang pamamahala ng mga National Sports Associations (NSA's) sa pakikialam ni POC President Peping Cojuangco. Ang Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP), Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (PDBF) at Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) ay ilan lamang sa mga NSA's na pinanghimasukan at tuluyang binuwag ng POC sa ilalim ni Peping Cojuangco. Ang mga atleta naman ng Azkals at Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF) ay pinagbawalang sumali at kumatawan sa Pilipinas ng POC sa ilang mahahalagang torneo sa ibang bansa. At ngayon na, nananatiling walang kalaban si Cojuangco sa nalalapit na POC election na labis namang tinututulan ni Ricky Vargas at kanyang kampo.

Ang hindi ko lubusang maintindihan ay kung ano ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw pa rin umalis ni Cojuangco sa POC sa kabila ng labing-dalawang taon na niyang panunungkulan. Hindi pa ba sapat ang panahon na kanyang inilagi sa POC ? Hindi pa ba sapat ang gulo na nangyari sa ilalim ng kanyang pamamahala ? Hindi pa ba sapat ang lakas ng panawagan ng taumbayan na siya ay magparaya na nang magkaroon na ng pagbabago sa Philippine sports ?

Sobra na, tama na, palita na.

NSA'S WITH THE MOST BUDGET AND PEPING'S TICKET

courtesy of thehindu.com

The National Sports Associations (NSA's) that were given the most budget for 2016 , according to PSC records, are as follows :

1. Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (PATAFA)           - Php 42.4 M
2. Wushu Federation of the Philippines (WFP)                                  - Php 31,2 M
3. Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP)                 - Php 30.8 M
4. Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation (PCKF)                                - Php 25.1 M
5. Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA)                                     - Php 24.8 M
6. National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)                  - Php 22.2 M
7. Philippine Archers' National Network and Alliance (PANNA)        - Php 19.0 M
8. Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP)                           - Php 18.3 M
9. Philippine Bowling Congress (PBC)                                             - Php 16.6 M
10. Gymnastics Association of the Philippines (GAP)                       - Php 15.3 M

Interestingly, 7 of the 10 NSA's listed above have their presidents running under Peping Cojuangco's ticket for the 2016 POC election. WFP President Julian Camacho, PCKF President Jonne Go, PTA President Joey Romasanta, NCFP President Prospero Pichay Jr., PBC President Steve Hontiveros, PANNA President Atty Jesus Clint Aranas and GAP President Cynthia Carrion are all running under the ticket of incumbent POC president Peping Cojuangco this November.

Draw your own conclusions dear reader.

WHAT'S NEXT, RICKY VARGAS AND PHILIPPINE SPORTS ?

courtesy of spin.ph

ABAP President Ricky Vargas has been disqualified to run for POC president by the POC Election Committee with finality. With the decision, what are the options left for Ricky Vargas ?

One, Vargas and his group can obtain a TRO to stop the POC election on November 25 until the court has decided on the legality of the disqualification. If Vargas and his group manage to obtain a TRO, the TRO must be served to the POC Election Committee. Should the court fail to serve the TRO for some reason, the election may still take place.

The second option for Vargas and his group is to encourage the POC General Assembly to have an emergency meeting to decide on the the issue whether to allow Vargas to run or not. But since Peping has the majority of the NSA's on his side, I seriously doubt whether the General Assembly will rule in favor of Vargas.

The third option for Vargas is to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). After all, almost all disputes in sports are decided in CAS. But elevating the case to CAS will entail the consumption of a lot of time. And time is certainly not on the side of Vargas. It will take at least a year for CAS to decide on the case.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) can likewise help Vargas with his candidacy. Vargas can write to IOC to ask for an amendment to the election rules of POC. But with the principle of autonomy applying to every National Olympic Committee (NOC), Vargas and his group will find it hard to convince IOC to interfere with the election rules of POC. Still, it will not hurt to give it a try.

The last option, I believe, is for government to finally intervene and act on the matter. Peping and his men have abused their power and authority for the longest time and government must not remain blind and deaf to these abuses. Through the years, POC have shattered the dreams of several athletes, coaches and NSA's to bring pride and honor to the country. It is high time that government sets its foot down and say that enough is enough.

Drastic times call for drastic action. And the time has certainly come for Philippine sports to receive drastic action. Peping Cojuangco and his men must now go. And government cannot just stand and stare.

THE FIGHT OF ABAP PRESIDENT RICKY VARGAS

courtesy of spin.ph

ABAP President Ricky Vargas faces his biggest and most crucial fight in Philippine sports as he dares to challenge Peping Cojuangco for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) presidency.

With Frank Elizalde, a close friend of Peping Cojuangco, as head of the POC Election Committee, Vargas is truly placed in a no-win situation. No amount of appeals will make Elizalde reverse his earlier decision not to allow Vargas to run because of  the latter's non-attendance to majority of the POC General Assemblies.

Given the situation, Vargas has three more options. One, he can go to court. But with the justice system in the Philippines, it will take at least 5 years for the court to decide on his case. Two, Vargas can write to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to ask the international body to ask POC to change its rules on running for an elective position. While IOC can ask POC to do so, it will really depend on POC whether it will decide to amend its rules. And chances are, POC will not do so to protect Peping's perpetual hold on the presidency. Third, Vargas can elevate his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Aside from being expensive, it will take at least a year for CAS to decide on the case. Time definitely is not on the side of Vargas as the status quo will be maintained as the investigation rolls on. Meaning, Peping continues to act as the POC president as the case drags on.

The best possible solution to Vargas' woes will definitely be government intervention. The government intervention that is needed is the type that will immediately merit a suspension of the country from IOC. It is that type of government intervention that happened in Kuwait.

But more significantly, it is in India where the Philippines can learn most from. India was suspended from IOC because IOC saw that the election of leadership in the Indian Olympic Association was rigged. Perhaps, Vargas and his lawyers can take it from there.

Whatever option Ricky Vargas and his group take, I sincerely hope that they eventually make the most out of it and succeed. After all, the whole fiasco is bigger than Vargas and his fight to become POC president. It is all about the Filipino athletes and Philippine sports in general.