Sports groups stage rally vs Peping, POC

Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr

A group composed of concerned sports officials, coaches, athletes and sports aficionados held separate peace rallies in Manila and Cebu Thursday in an effort to pressure the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) into a change of leadership.

And with the target of the rallies, POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco reportedly unmoved by calls for his resignation, it looks like things are just getting started.

“What will follow will be worth watching,” said former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Perry Mequi, who led a small group that assembled at Rizal Memorial Coliseum for the Manila rally.

In Cebu City, PSC Commissioner Mon Fernandez led a bigger group that gathered at Fuente Osmeña circle and exhorted the athletes to distance themselves from the politicking.

“Just keep practicing and let us do the fight for you,” Fernandez told the athletes.

Cojuangco, who arrived from the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan, could not be reached for comment but sources said the former congressman would not give in to calls for his resignation.

“We will now shift gear and pressure the government to file charges against Peping and those who are found to be guilty in mismanaging people’s money,” Mequi said.