Aranas bares POC ticket for Nov 27 polls

Promising transparency and accountability, lawyer Clint Aranas, the country’s archery chief, announced on Wednesday his running mates for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) elections, a day after incumbent president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino named his top two allies.

Aranas picked current chair Steve Hontiveros, who will seek reelection, while naming track and field president Philip Ella Juico and Ada Milby of rugby as his bets for 1st and 2nd vice presidents, respectively.

“The POC should be the ambassador of the NSAs (national sports associations) because the POC is nothing without the NSAs. Thus, the heart behind my platform is transparency and accountability,’’ Aranas said.

A total of 51 NSAs plus two representatives from Athletes Commission and International Olympic Committee executive board member Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski form the electorate, who will cast their votes for a new set of POC officials in the Nov. 27 polls.

“Steve has been there for the longest time and he’s a man of integrity, while Juico is a former PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) Chairman who understands the government and the private sector and he has proven himself a very competent person,’’ Aranas said.

The group of Aranas injected a lot of young blood into the race by persuading Milby, secretary general of Philippine Rugby Union, to join them after the first female member of World Rugby Council initially decided to run independently.

“We’ve adopted Ada because she’s independent, outspoken and a good ambassador for rugby. She’s one of the most influential persons in the rugby world,’’ Aranas said.

On Tuesday, Tolentino, now running for a complete four-year term after serving the remainder of former POC president Ricky Vargas’ term, announced basketball chief Al Panlilio (1st vice president) and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez of fencing and modern pentathlon (2nd vice president) as his running mates.