UNMASKING POC PRESIDENT RICKY VARGAS

courtesy of spin.ph

To this day, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas has yet to suspend Philippine Katatedo Fedration (PKF) from POC. Despite the withdrawal of membership of PKF from World Karatedo Fedration (WKF), Vargas and the entire POC refuse to suspend PKF.

The whole issue on karatedo truly reveals the kind of sports leader Vargas is. When the seven karatekas came out in public to reveal the anomalies within PKF, Vargas and POC were so unconcerned and did not even bother to investigate what the athletes were complaining about. It was the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) that took the initiative to do an investigation. PSC was the one that took on the responsibility that should, in the first place, belongs to Vargas and POC.

But more than that, what is really disturbing about the karatedo episode is the inability of Vargas and POC to take immediate and proper action. Clearly, PKF and its officials committed serious offenses which WKF verified and found to be true. But despite this, Vargas and POC appear unmoved and seem to protect PKF under Romasanta. This early in his leadership, Vargas has failed to gather enough courage and good judgment. So to expect Vargas and POC to enforce good governance in sports is nothing more than wishful thinking.