POC board to tackle RTC order

Expect the Philippine Olympic Committee to finally take an official stand on the court-ordered elections in Wednesday’s critical executive board meeting.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court declared null and void the POC polls late 2016 and ordered that a new elections for president and chairman be held on Feb. 23.

POC head Peping Cojuangco earned a fourth straight term as president after running unopposed due to the disqualification of boxing chief Ricky Vargas.

With Cojuangco at the helm, the POC board, which also has first vice president Joey Romasanta, second vice president Jeff Tamayo and secretary general Steve Hontiveros, should make up its mind on what action to pursue ahead of the Jan. 31 general assembly.

‘“As a citizen of the republic and as an officer of a law-abiding institution (POC), I am expected to uphold the rule of law,” said Romasanta. “I have to adhere to and comply with a lawful order of the court without prejudice to usage of any appropriate legal remedy that may be available.”

The POC has filed a petition to extend the prescription period to appeal the RTC decision, handed by Judge Maria Gracia Cadiz-Casaclang of Pasig RTC Branch 155, in the Court of Appeals.