POC: Settle dispute among yourselves

FILE – POC chief Ricky Vargas. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Settle the leadership controversy among yourselves.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas gave this piece of advice to a group of former swimmers who questioned the leadership of Lani Velasco, the elected president during the Philippine Swimming Inc. (PSI) general assembly.

“As far as the POC is concerned, these issues are intercorporate, so they have to work within the rules of their own association,” said Vargas after the POC held its last executive board meeting for the year on Thursday at Capitol Commons.

The POC recently lifted the suspension of the PSI after the International Swimming Federation (Fina) and Asian Swimming Federation threw their full backing behind Velasco’s leadership.

Despite the recognition of the POC and Fina, Olympians Ral Rosario, Eric Buhain, Pinky Brosas and Akiko Thomson-Guevara continue to question the authority of Velasco.

“All their questions are violations of the rules. It’s amongst themselves,” said Vargas. “Our only involvement is in terms of recognition. What we are trying to say is that the elections conducted were duly recognized by the IF (international federation) and the POC.”

The PSI will have its general assembly on Friday at Manila Yacht Club.