INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - National Athletics chief Go Teng Kok confirmed Thursday that he was sacked by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco Jr. as executive assistant last week.

?Maybe he forgot that I already have three votes, aside from those NSAs (national sports associations) aligned with me,? said Go.

The Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association president is also the head of the Philippine Karatedo Federation while long jumper Marestella Torres, who recently earned a seat in the POC general assembly with voting powers is a staunch Go supporter.

Torres and boxer Harry Tañ-amor were appointed as athletes? representatives to the POC general assembly with the same rights and privileges all POC members enjoy.

?I can now pack my bags and be independent together with my NSAs,? said Go, whose support helped Cojuangco win a second term over shooting chief Art Macapagal during the POC elections last year.

?It?s his (Cojuangco) loss, not mine,? added Go.

Cojuangco, who went to Italy to visit some relatives, couldn?t be reached for comment.

?Mr. Cojuangco will arrive on Monday, maybe that?s the right time for us to talk,? said Go, who also heads the rules committee of the POC. ?But as far as I?m concerned, everything is over.?

Go said he would remove POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta as secretary general in karate.

Romasanta said he is not aware of Go?s arrangement with Cojuangco.

Romasanta said signs of the Cojuangco-Go breakup showed when Go failed to attend meetings for the Southeast Asian Games preparations last week.