Go Teng Kok-Cojuangco POC polls showdown on

INITIALLY, POC presidential aspirant Go Teng Kok did not entertain any illusion of winning when he filed his candidacy.

He just wanted to challenge Peping Cojuangco, who is seeking a third term. He just wanted to stand by his word that if nobody else will have the guts to oppose the President’s uncle, he would.

The athletics chief believes that Peping has not done anything positive for Philippine sports in his eight-year tenure.

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A day or two after filing his candidacy, I got a call from GTK.

“I can’t believe it. I did not expect to be flooded by so many phone calls from so many people who expressed their support for me. I didn’t know I had so many allies. They were so many that if I translated all these calls into actual votes, I would win by a landslide,” GTK said. He sounded so upbeat.

Encouraged by the overwhelming support, GTK’s mind-set changed from negative to positive. He now believes it is possible for him to win, even if Peping and company are doing everything to get him out of the way.

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“The reason I called is to inform you that I cannot be disqualified from running because the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by POC officials Monico Puentevella, Steve Hontiveros and Peping who sought to overturn the decision of the Pasig Regional Trial Court,” GTK said.

Acting on his petition, GTK explained that the Pasig RTC nullified Peping’s motion to declare GTK “persona non grata” and to expel him from POC membership.

The Pasig RTC ruled that these moves were done without due process and violated the laws of the POC and IOC.

GTK was therefore re-installed as president of the Patafa, a position he has held for two decades, and the Philippine Karatedo Federation.

Peping and company elevated the case to the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn the decision of the Pasig Regional Trial Court, but they failed.

“The POC cannot ignore the highest court of the land. And although Peping may be the uncle of the Philippine president, the Supreme Court ruling proves that no one is above the law.”

“Mr. Cojuangco, see you at the POC polls on Nov. 30,” GTK said.

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Boxingscene.com declared it as “one of the most anticipated fights in the lower weight categories this year, with so much at stake.” But no one seems to be talking about the face-off between Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria and Hernan “Tyson” Marquez at Los Angeles Sports Arena on Nov. 17.

That’s just a little over two weeks away.

The fight is a unification championship featuring WBO flyweight titlist Viloria from the US and the Philippines and WBA flyweight champ Marquez from Mexico. Both are power punchers.

Brian’s previous fights have been staged here in Manila. This November event must be a blockbuster—tickets are selling at $25 apiece, which is probably why the promoters decided to hold it in Los Angeles.

Marquez, who has a 34-2 record with 25 knockouts is being trained by Robert Garcia, former handler of Brian, who is now under the tutelage of none other than Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao’s coach.

Lucrative contracts for future fights are said to await the winner of this encounter.