SETTLING disputes—or unsettling them—was the order of the day in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) General Assembly under its new leadership with swimming finding itself on the hot seat.
The POC, now headed by President Ricky Vargas and Chairman Tagaytay City Rep. Abraham Tolentino, looked headed to a collision course with the International Swimming Federation (Fina) on the election of Lani Velasco as president of the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI), predecessor of the embattled Philippine Amateurn Swimming Association.
While the Fina has recognized Velasco’s election last February at the Manila Golf Club, the POC general assembly, following a unanimous endorsement of the POC Executive Board, on Monday refused to recognize her election.
The POC Executive Board unanimously adopted the recommendation of taekwondo chief Robert Aventajado, chairman of the POC Arbitration and Disputes Commission, based on the commission’s findings on the issue.
Aventajado said the PSI violated its own constitution and recommended that the POC withdraw its recognition of the February 18 PSI election witnessed by former POC Secretary General Atty. Simeone Rivera as an observer.
Aventajado also recommended for the suspension of all PSI officials from all POC-related activities and that the POC form a “caretaker body” to oversee the affairs of the association.
The POC acted on complaint filed by former PSI board members Akiko Thomson-Guevarra, Ral Rosario, Pinky Brosas and Eddie Ledesma, who questioned the legitimacy of the presidency of Velasco.
Chess chief Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. and athletics head Philip Ella Juico took the floor, invoking the autonomy of national sports associations, over the issue of a “caretaker body,” but their views were overruled by the majority in the first general assembly meeting held under Vargas at the Meralco Multi-Purpose Hall of the Meralco Building in Pasig City.
PSI legal counsel Glenn Tuason tried to explain the PSI stand but Tolentino, who presided over the meeting, refused to give him the floor because he was not a duly-recognized PSI official.
The POC decision came four days after Asia Swimming Federation Secretary Taha Kishry of Oman formally wrote POC Secretary General Petrick Gregorio expressing his concern over the PSI crisis, despite moves by Fina and the ASF to recognize Velasco’s election.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza