Will MVP agree to subsidize a scandal?

They find it necessary to conduct regular pulse surveys which, of late, have further boosted people’s trust and approval for President Aquino.

Just fine, but regarding major players and people around the President, relatives included, P-Noy need not resort to surveys to determine the most admired and most distrusted among them.

In sports, for example, there’s a unanimous nod for one man who can rescue Philippine sports from the quicksand of mediocrity where it has languished these past many years.

* * *

His name is Manny V. Pangilinan who, at last count, has more than enough of the national sports association (NSA) heads needed to vote for him and kick out the inept and unproductive Peping Cojuangco, P-Noy’s uncle, as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

The call: MVP can win the POC presidency hands down.

But there’s a little problem here which only Pangilinan is capable of solving.

* * *

It’s like this. Based on inputs from very reliable sources, MVP would agree to go for the POC presidency only if he gets assured by the majority of the voting NSAs.

The assurance could come in the form of a manifesto, or any display of open support.

These same sources said MVP wanted at least 25 sure votes to comprise a solid majority.

However, athletics president Go Teng Kok, a top Cojuangco critic, yesterday swore that MVP, at last count, has more than enough of the numbers he wished.

Go said he has done the rounds and gotten the nod of at least 30 NSA heads ready and willing to back MVP in the POC presidential race next month.

* * *

These same sports leaders, Go noted, said they would not consider MVP beholden to them if and when he runs and wins.

“Easily, yes, easily, there are already 30 NSA presidents ready and willing to support Mr. Pangilinan, and I haven’t talked to everybody yet,” Go told the Inquirer.

But here’s the catch: The solid pro-MVP group also wanted a mutual assurance from Pangilinan.

“They would come out in the open, but Mr. Pangilinan has to first file his candidacy for the POC presidency,” Go said.

The deadline for filing is Oct. 26.

* * *

Meanwhile, one top MVP sports lieutenant yesterday bared he had been approached by one NSA president who claimed he has seven others with him ready to vote for Pangilinan.

“Is this the same Dayrit block you’re representing?” the MVP lieutenant asked.

“No, we are an independent group,” the NSA head answered.

“What’s the problem?”

“We cannot just come out in the open for Mr. Pangilinan; he must first declare officially he’s running.”

“Why?”

“What would happen to us if we declared and MVP did not run?”

The beleaguered NSA head said they did not want to end up being kicked and trampled upon by “the vindictive enemy.”

Go himself kept on harking on how it would be a truly noble gesture on the part of Pangilinan to go for the POC presidency.

“He doesn’t need it anymore, but he’s the only one who could rescue Philippine sports,” Go repeated.

In the event MVP backs out, won’t that be as big a stink as also subsidizing a scandal?

“Exactly!” the fighting Go said