INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - While Jose "Peping" Cojuangco trains his sights on the Philippine Sports Commission regarding the equestrian row, another controversy is about to hit the Philippine Olympic Committee chief.

Triathlon chief Tom Carrasco on Wednesday questioned the choice of long-jumper Maristella Torres and boxer Harry Tañamor as the athletes? representatives to the POC general assembly?seats supposed to be filled by athletes from a roster of candidates submitted by the Philippine Olympic Association.

?We?ll raise the issue in the next general assembly,? said Carrasco. ?We were surprised to learn that the nominees did not come from the shortlist of the POA contrary to what we have already agreed upon.?

The POA is headed by shooting chief Art Macapagal, Cojuangco?s rival in the recent POC elections. The names nominated by the POA included 2000 Sydney Olympians Benjie Tolentino of rowing and Toni Leviste of equestrian.

Cojuangco could not be reached for comment but the POC chief had earlier spoken against PSC chair Harry Angping for recognizing the election of Party-list Rep. Carissa Coscolluela as president of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines.

?The obvious bias of the PSC chair in this particular issue appeared to be tainted with malice and is a clear case of government intervention,? added Cojuangco. Angping recognized Coscolluela?s election on the basis of the EAP?s international federation?s recognition of the elections.

Cojuangco noted the PSC?s alleged refusal to recognize the National Archery Association of the Philippines elections even when its president, Leonora Brawner, had already obtained sanction from its international federation and the POC.

?Further prejudice became apparent as in the case of the archery association when the PSC refuses to honor both the IF and the POC recognition of the NAAP duly elected officers.?

Leviste and Tolentino are considered supporters of Macapagal and their selection as athletes? representatives would automatically provide Macapagal?s group two votes without a sweat in the divided POC general assembly.

Torres came from athletics headed by POC special assistant Go Teng Kok while Tañamor has POC 1st vice president Manny Lopez as backer.