Araneta gives way to Vargas in POC elections

Mariano “Nonong” Araneta. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Football chief Mariano “Nonong” Araneta will no longer seek the top post of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Araneta’s decision came in the wake of boxing head Ricky Vargas’ declaration to challenge incumbent POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco in the Olympic body’s election next month.

Stressing the importance of coming up with a unified stand in challenging Cojuangco’s bid for a fourth term, the Philippine Football Federation president said he will fully support Vargas’ campaign for the POC presidency.

“More than the POC presidency, what is important to me is to come up with a unified, solid stand,” Araneta told the Inquirer.

Araneta said he only wanted to offer the Olympic body an alternative and challenge Cojuangco, the POC president since 2004.

But with Vargas declaring his candidacy, Araneta said he is “gladly” giving way to the president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.

“Our group of NSAs now have a viable candidate for the POC presidency in Ricky Vargas,” said Araneta. He declined to mention who among the national sports association leaders belong to their bloc.

Vargas will file his candidacy on Monday.

Cojuangco also ran unopposed in 2012 when then Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan begged off from seeking the POC post.