POC board declares Go Teng Kok persona non grata

MANILA—Once the fair-haired boy of the Philippine Olympic Committee, track and field president Go Teng Kok has been declared  “persona non grata” by the local Olympic body.

POC deputy secretary general Mark Joseph yesterday said the executive board recently disowned Go for violating its constitution and by-laws by going to court to stop the POC from recognizing newly installed Philippine Karatedo Federation (PKF) president Enrico Vasquez.

Joseph said Go violated Article 3, Section M of the constitution that says that the POC is the final arbiter of intra-national sports association disputes.

Joseph said Go, also a former PKF president, included all the top officials of the Olympic body headed by president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta in the two civil cases he filed after Go lost his leadership claim in karatedo.

“Taking it to court is like a slap to the POC. This was the basis for declaring him (Go) persona non grata,” said Joseph.

“There was no due process. I will make a statement as soon as I receive the resolution of the executive board declaring me persona non grata,” Go told the Inquirer.

Go and Romasanta had occupied the top two posts in the PKF before they parted ways on the issue of leadership in the association.

The POC backed Romasanta in the dispute and ordered a new election where Vasquez won as president during the Philippine National Games in Bacolod last month.

Before the falling out with Romasanta, Go served as special assistant to Cojuangco and held several key positions in the POC.

Joseph said Go could still function as president of the Patafa but would not be allowed to attend POC functions.