Peping eyes 3rd term as POC head

MANILA, Philippines—Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., credited for both giving the country its proudest and most embarrassing moments in the Southeast Asian Games, is seeking a third term as Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president.

“Most likely, I will run,” said Cojuangco Monday two days after returning from a three-week Christmas vacation in the United States.

Cojuangco, the equestrian president, didn’t discuss details of his reelection bid but said he is set to confer with officials of the Philippine Sports Commission probably this week and chart the long-term direction for PH sports.

So far, no opposition has come forward to challenge Cojuangco’s bid for another four-year term. Cojuangco narrowly retained his post by two votes over former shooting chief Art Macapagal during the 2008 POC elections.

The POC election, held on every Olympic year, may happen a month after the 2012 London Olympics scheduled July 27 to Aug.12

Under Cojuangco, the Philippines captured the overall title in the Southeast Asian Games for the first time when Manila hosted the biennial meet in 2005.

Team Philippines, however, experienced a performance slide in recent years. From overall champion, the national team finished sixth in the 2007 Thailand edition, fifth in 2009 Laos and sixth again in Indonesia last year with a record low 36 gold medals.

Though Cojuangco’s term was marked by respectable performances in the 2006 and 2010 Asian Games, the Philippines has no Olympic medal to show in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing during his eight-year reign.