Four more years for Peping Cojuangco

Newly-elected POC Officers led by president Peping Cojuangco. Photo by June Navarro

Without any element of surprise, the Philippine Olympic Committee election Friday was just a mere formality for president Jose Cojuangco Jr. to begin another fresh four-year mandate.

But unlike the unfinished business in his previous tenure, Cojuangco wants to see his grand plan for Philippine sports—a new national training center of international standards—completed this time.

“We can’t wait for somebody to build the training center for us,’’ said Cojuangco, the younger brother of democracy icon and former President Corazon Aquino. “I will focus on the training center. In fact, I’ve started going to the provinces to talk my friends who could help us in our cause.’’

On his fourth straight term at the helm of the local Olympic body, Cojuangco will oversee the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, his second time after heading the organizing committee of the 2005 Manila SEAG when the Philippines captured its first overall title.

“There are big concerns like next year’s SEAG and our hosting in 2019 coming up and we don’t have much time,’’ said Cojuangco, who got 26 votes out of the 37 voters, including 34 national sports associations.

Athlete representatives Henry Dagmil and Olympic silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz also cast their votes along with International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski.

Cojuangco also promised to sustain what he had started for the national athletes with strength and conditioning, scientific training and nutrition at the heart of his programs.

While Cojuangco ran unopposed following the disqualification of boxing chief and potential challenger Ricky Vargas, POC 1st vice president Joey Romasanta of karatedo had to go through the motions of getting the approval of the electorate.

POC 1st vice president Joey Romasanta retained his post with a 23-14 win over Negros representative Alfredo Benitez of badminton while POC 2nd vice president Jeff Tamayo was also the popular choice, 26-11, over muay’s Lucas Managuelod.

Wushu’s Julian Camacho remained the Olympic body’s treasurer while Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation president Jonne Go was named auditor. Archery’s Clint Aranas, Cynthia Carrion of gymnastics, Roberto Mananquil of billiards and Propero Pichay Jr. of chess were elected board members.

“Healing is automatic. We have to restore harmony in the POC,’’ said Cojuangco. “I’ve been to a lot of elections in my life and that’s always the case. When the game is over the idea is to put everybody together and go for the objective of helping the community.’’

Vargas and cycling’s Abraham Tolentino, who was rendered ineligible to run as chairman along with rival Tom Carrasco of triathlon, didn’t show up during the proceedings at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.