Romero giving up shooting top post

THE PHILIPPINE National Shooting Association (PNSA) will have to search for a new leader now after its president, Mikee Romero, begged off from serving another term.

Romero, the businessman-sportsman who was at the helm for only 18 months, said yesterday he would no longer seek a position in the PNSA elections set on Feb. 16 due to his heavy involvement in various business projects.

“I will be doing a disservice to the association if I continue to cling to my position while I’m out (of the country) most of the time,” Romero said in a statement.

In June 2011, the directors of the five PNSA aggrupations—shotgun, rifle, pistol, practical shooting and non-ISSF— voted for Romero to take over the remainder of the four-year term vacated by former president Art Macapagal.

In less than two years in the post, Romero launched several projects and innovations, including the installation of the first electronic target system at Marine Shooting Range in Fort Bonifacio.

‘Other capable PNSA men’

Romero said “there are others who are also capable of running the association,” but he assured the PNSA that he will continue to help promote the sport in the country.

The 41-year-old Romero, the president and chief executive officer of Harbour Center, is also part owner of the budget airline AirAsia Philippines. In sports, he has been recently focused on rebuilding his team, the Globalport Batang Pier, in the PBA.

“I will have no more time with my family if I continue to lead the association,” said Romero.

Under Romero’s term, the PNSA clinched the hosting rights for the 2013 Southeast Asian Shooting Association (Seasa) Championship.

Membership data base

Romero also organized the PNSA membership data base and established a merit system among its top athletes; introduced the PNSA Bench Rest rifle group and the propagation of the small bore (.22) and big bore rifle groups (.223); and launched the association’s website.

“There’s no favoritism because we have our own merit system,” said Romero, who in several occasions, personally financed the national shooters’ campaign in international competitions.

Romero also credited his fellow officials—secretary general Col. Danilo Gamboa, treasurer Marcia Cleofas and executive director Larry Paredes—for the association’s growth and good standing with the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission.