Equestrian stakeholders cry foul over Peping election

Former Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. retained the leadership of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines in an election disputed by many of the sport’s stakeholders recently.

International Olympic Committee representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Cojuangco’s daughter, was elected vice president in the balloting held at the executive lounge of the Jose Cojuangco building in Makati City, with POC deputy secretary general Karen Caballero as observer.

But Olympian Toni Leviste, Carissa Coscolluela, Joker Arroyo and Marivi Camcam disputed the vote. The day after the elections, the group filed an official protest before the local Olympic body and notified Federation Equestre Internationale president Ingmar de Vos and national federation liaison officer Lucinda Arsenio of alleged irregularities in the balloting.

“The election was conducted in clear violation of the bylaws of the EAP, which stipulate that all members are entitled to vote,” said Coscolluela, a former party-list representative.

Based on the bylaws of the association, Coscolluela said there is no distinction between regular and associate members.

“It is a right, not a privilege, that cannot be withdrawn or arbitrarily removed by the board. The EAP prevented associate members from voting. It was a deprivation of their right to the point of disenfranchisement,” added Coscolluela, who abstained from voting.