POC heeds court order, IOC

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

There’s now a looming showdown for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) presidency between long-time incumbent Peping Cojuangco and boxing chief Ricky Vargas.

The POC relented to the call for an election on Feb. 23 after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) stepped in and demanded the local Olympic officials call “urgently an extraordinary meeting” and resolve the issue “in an appropriate manner and in the presence of all interested parties.”

“I am happy that the POC finally decided to follow the rule of law and the voice of reason,” said Vargas. “And the IOC should be commended for their straightforward appreciation of the situation. I now look forward to an orderly and fair election hopefully leading to the improvement of our athletes’ lives and Philippine sports in general.”

In 2016, Cojuangco earned a fourth straight term as president but only after the POC election committee disqualified Vargas, the sole challenger who failed to meet the required attendance in POC general assembly meetings.

The Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) later on declared the said election null and void and instructed the POC to hold new polls.

Pere Miró, the deputy director general who sent the IOC memo dated Feb. 9, called the judicial court’s order “unfortunate” and noted “that all internal remedies and disputes-resolution mechanisms be exhausted before potentially considering any further recourses.”