Juico gets clear path to track and field presidency

Looks like there won’t be any opposition against Philip Juico for the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) presidency.

Outgoing Patafa chief Go Teng Ko yesterday said those who initially opposed the candidacy of Juico, represented by regional directors Nicanor “Boy” Sering and lawyer Rufus Rodriguez, have already given their support to the former Philippine Sports Commission chair.

Sering, son and namesake of the former Patafa head and Philippine Olympic Committee president, and Rodriguez, also Cagayan de Oro representative, were reportedly interested to run for Patafa’s top post.

But Go said he has persuaded them to give way to Juico, the same way he convinced officials and coaches of the National Collegiate and Athletic Association and University Athletic Association of the Philippines to endorse the former president of Wack Wack Golf and Country Club Wednesday.

Go, who will step down after 24 years as athletics chief, said around 40 members of the Patafa executive board and representatives of the 15 regional offices will cast their votes on July 25.

Asian Athletics Association secretary general Maurice Nicholas will arrive July 24 to oversee the elections.

Meanwhile, support for Juico’s candidacy continued to snowball as Gov. Dominic Petilla of Leyte, Department of Energy Sec. Jericho Petilla and the Leyte Sports Academy threw their support behind the former De La Salle Graduate School of Business dean.

The Petillas are “happy” to welcome Juico as Go’s successor.