INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - An anomalous situation.

This was how Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping described the current leadership status in the Philippine Olympic Committee in the wake of the confirmation of party-list Rep. Carisa Coscolluela as new equestrian president.

"With the confirmation of Coscolluela's EAP presidency, the POC now finds itself in an anomalous situation where the president and the secretary general both do not officially represent an NSA," said Angping.

The POC president is Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr., who was elected to a second term last November as equestrian president while the secretary general is former bowling head Steve Hontiveros.

Mariano Tamayo now heads the bowling association.

Observers also noted that the POC first vice president, boxing's Manny Lopez, is not an NSA head and that Mark Joseph, the deputy secretary general, is under fire from a group of parents and coaches who question his legitimacy as swimming president.

Ricky Vargas took over as amateur boxing president last year with Lopez sliding down to the post of Abap vice president.

Angping, who has been critical of certain POC policies, also noted the estafa case the government sports agency filed last week against POC treasurer Julian Camacho, who stepped down recently as president of the Wushu Federation of the Philippines.

Camacho has denied any wrongdoing.

"The POC treasurer is also accused of irregularities in his own backyard," said Angping. "Now, how can the POC inspire the youth and our athletes?"