Track chief Go Teng Kok seeks TRO versus ouster

MANILA—National Athletics chief Go Teng Kok has sought a temporary restraining order from the Pasig Regional Trial Court to annul his ouster from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)  general assembly.

Go said his expulsion was “improvident” and “unlawful.”

Go sought legal relief through lawyer Sammy Estimo, the former chess Olympian who deplored the POC move that was based on a signature campaign among members of the general assembly.

Go claimed that the procedure adopted in expelling him “violated the pertinent provisions of the POC constitution and by-laws as well as the charter of the IOC which gives life to the former.”

He said the signature campaign was initiated by POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, chair Monico Puentevella, secretary general Steve Hontiveros, assistant secretary general Mark Joseph and assistant secretary general and spokesperson Joey Romasanta.

Go said his expulsion was triggered by his expose of “anomalies committed by respondents,” specifically referring to the plunder cases filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against respondents Cojuangco, Puentevella and Hontiveros, as well as the other cases filed against Joseph and Romasanta.

Estimo quoted Article VI, Section 2 of the POC charter which states that “An NSA representative may be denied or expelled from the General Assembly by  three-fourths of the votes cast by the voting members present in the General Assembly.”

“This provision of the POC constitution clearly nullifies the signature campaign conducted by the petitioners where the signatures of the voting members of the General Assembly were solicited on a piecemeal basis before the extraordinary meeting,” said Go.

The petition said the three-fourths votes needed must be actually cast during the meeting called for the purpose of expelling Go.

Estimo also pointed out that Go’s lawful rights as a member of the POC General Assembly must have been first tabled, discussed or debated in open session by the assembly and that Go must have been given a chance to defend himself.