Araneta seeks Peping Cojuangco ouster

POC President Peping Cojuangco. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta will file a complaint before the ethics body of the International Olympic Committee in an effort to disqualify incumbent Olympic chief Jose Cojuangco Jr. from running for a fourth straight term in the coming POC elections.

Araneta cited an IOC provision issued Dec. 12, 1999 for national Olympic committee presidents seeking reelection, which limited the term of office to a maximum of 12 years.

“I will have to elevate the case to the IOC ethics committee. We have to inform them of what’s happening here,” Araneta told the Inquirer.

The football chief has already forwarded a complaint against Cojuangco before the POC election body asking for the latter’s disqualification.

“Other NSAs (national sports associations) are welcome to join me when I notify the (IOC) ethics committee,” said Araneta, adding he’s inclined to bring up leadership issues about some NSAs in the complaint as well.

According to Araneta, the IOC directive fixed the term of NOC presidents for eight years, renewable for four years only for a total of 12 years in three Olympic cycles.

Boxing head Ricky Vargas has been fighting for a reversal of the POC comelec’s decision barring him to run for the POC top post against Cojuangco.

Cycling chief Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino was also declared ineligible to run in the Nov. 25 elections where the Cavite representative is seeking the POC chairmanship.

The election body headed by former IOC representative Frank Elizalde has already decided on the appeals of Vargas and Tolentino but has not officially announced it yet.