Work begins

The sought-out “change” in local sports leadership was consummated last Friday, Feb. 23, when long-time Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr. lost his position to Victorico “Ricky” Vargas in special elections held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Outvoted, 24-15, Association of Boxing Alliance of the Philippines president Vargas is now the new president of the local Olympic body and will be tasked to lead in the handling of various sports affairs in the country and look after the welfare of Filipino athletes.

Also winning at Friday’s elections was cycling federation head and Cavite Congressman Abraham Tolentino, who was voted in as POC chairman over table tennis chief Ting Ledesma, 23-15.

Mr. Tolentino ran in the same ticket as Mr. Vargas, making it a double-celebration for their group.

The election victory of Vargas was a “vindication” of sorts for his group after he ran against Mr. Cojuangco in 2016 but was eventually “disqualified” by the POC election committee at that time over “technicalities,” in particular for failing to be “an active member of the POC general assembly for two consecutive years at the time of their election” as stipulated in Article 7 Section 11 of the POC charter.

The group of Mr. Vargas contested the decision and filed for a temporary restraining order at the Pasig Regional Trial Court, which later denied the petition.

A breakthrough though happened in December last year when the Vargas camp won an election case it filed at the Pasig RTC.

The court decision ruled that POC elections on Nov. 25, 2016 for Chairman and President are “null and void” and set a reelection for Feb. 23, 2018.

Considering what they had to go through to secure the POC top post, congratulations have to go the way of Vargas and his camp.

They were determined to see their cause through and was eventually rewarded with majority of the country’s National Sports Associations throwing their support behind them.

Now that they are in position of leadership, the work begins for Vargas and Co.

And if you have been following the goings-on in that front, a lot of challenges present itself, a lot of “healing” as well.

As the Cojuangco regime, which spanned 13 years, wound up, various “problems” were presented left and right, resulting in much accusations and counter-accusations among stakeholders.

The underwhelming performances of our athletes in the last decade or so was “blamed” by critics on the leadership, or lack thereof, of Cojuangco, which the latter debunks, saying they did well with what “little” they had and won in some battlefronts.

That being said, Vargas‘ work is really cut out for him, especially in gaining back confidence at various levels in the country’s sports program and setting into motion their plans which they touted as bringing forth much-needed change.

Vargas was quoted as saying upon his election, “We are committed to the athletes. We are going to make it happen and set things right”; a welcome pronouncement and something to hold on to.

Reports have it that support has begun to pour in for Vargas from the private sector, with companies like San Miguel, Hapee Toothpaste and Ayala signifying their intention to help.

This is apart from the P20 million that sports patron Manuel Pangilinan pledged for the POC as seed money upon Vargas’ election.

The private sector support is indeed a good sign as the role it plays in sports development in the country could not be more pronounced with government resources admittedly limited.

So to Messrs. Vargas and Tolentino, and the other officials who will be put in place in the POC, all the best.

May you continue to strive in the positions you are in now and deliver on your promises and champion Philippine sports.

Michael Angelo S. Murillo has been a columnist since 2003. He is a BusinessWorld reporter covering the Sports beat.

msmurillo@www.bworldonline.com