POC sets three conditions for Paba return

PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., yesterday asked the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association (Paba) to call for a stakeholders’ summit, amend its constitution and by-laws and then hold elections.

Until then, said Cojuangco, the POC will withhold its recognition of the association, whose president for 32 years Hector Navasero died early this month.

The POC had already stripped recognition of Paba even before Navasero’s demise after it repeatedly turned down calls to make changes and include in its fold collegiate bodies and professional leagues.

Now the Paba is led by interim president Ely Baradas, who according to Cojuangco, can’t act in holdover capacity.

“Baradas must include the stakeholders not just his regional directors, but active leagues and collegiate organizations, groups that are really interested in baseball,” said Cojuangco. “It’s time their voices are heard.”

The POC chief said baseball has always been a favorite sport in the country especially with the influx of Asian clouters who are making names in the Major League in the United States.

The Philippines is the Southeast Asia champion and is fifth in Asia.