POC rule on GA attendance unfair, says Dayrit

MANILA, Philippines — The opposition to the candidacy of Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. Friday protested against an election rule that requires the candidate’s presence in two consecutive POC general assemblies.

Heads of national sports associations (NSAs) who are said to be trying to convince tycoon and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan to throw his hat in the ring said they have not heard of such a rule in past POC elections.

Pangilinan, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and chair of the national boxing and badminton associations, has not made a decision to run against Cojuangco, who is seeking a third term.

Former Olympic chief and fencing president Celso Dayrit said the rule is “unfair.” Dayrit’s bloc is said to have as many as 10 of the 43 POC voting members.

“I don’t remember him [Cojuangco] attending more than two general assemblies before he ran for president in 2004,” said Dayrit.

Go Teng Kok, chief of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, said Pangilinan “is undeniably the most active NSA leader, more active than the other aspirants whom the POC election body has allowed to run.”

A POC official who asked not to be named because he is not authorized to speak on the matter said the ruling on the GA attendance was instituted during the 2008 elections.

The POC, composed of 40 NSAs, two athletes representatives and the representative to the country of the International Olympic Committee, will hold the elections on Nov. 30 at Ayala Alabang.