Vargas questions disqualification, seeks reconsideration

ABAP president Ricky Vargas (right) during the announcement of Gilas’ final lineup last month. PBA IMAGES

Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines president Ricky Vargas filed a motion for reconsideration after being disqualified by the Philippine Olympic Committee election body for the coming polls.

The POC on Wednesday deemed Vargas ineligible because of his failure to make the minimum number of attendances in general assemblies.

“It is our athletes and NSAs who shall invariably be deprived of their right to a free and fair democratic exercise in hopes of reinvigorating Philippine sports,” said Vargas in a statement.

Vargas maintained that “active membership is more than attendance. Physical presence at the general assembly does not equate to active participation.”

POC charter states that a candidate for president must “have been an active member of the POC General Assembly for two consecutive years at the time of their election.”

POC comelec chair Frank Elizalde interpreted that requirement as having attended more than half of the 12 GAs the POC held the past two years. Vargas sends Abap officers to represent him during the GAs.