PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco urged Malacanang to fast track the appointment of new officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the upcoming two international events.
The events are the 1st Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore this August and the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China this November.
Cojuangco admitted that he endorsed the appointment of former national golfer Ritchie Garcia, citing his vast experiences as commissioner of the golf body.
Garcia worked as commissioner during the terms of President Joseph Estrada and President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
In an interview with Sun.Star Bacolod on Wednesday, Garcia either confirmed or denied his looming appointment.
"Unless I have the appointment papers, I can't say that I am the one chosen to take the post," he said.
Cojuangco also backed the retention of outgoing commissioner and swimming Olympian Akiko Thomson-Guevarra.
He favored as well the appointments of POC deputy secretary-general Buddy Andrada, Little League chief Jolly Gomez, basketball legend Chito Loyzaga, and athletes commission head Dina Bernardo.
The three are tipped to replace commissioners Joey Mundo, Eric Loretizo and Fr. Vic Uy, who served as executive director under former PSC chairman Harry Angping.
"They are more than qualified to fill in the post. All of them have been involved in sports for so many years and are winners in their own rights. I am asking our current leaders to announce its decision because we're pressed for time," said Cojuangco.
"We need our PSC team to help our delegation to the Asian Games and the World Youth Olympic Games. We need them to help us out and program the whole thing," he added.
To recall, the PSC and the POC had conflicts over various sports policies like the sending of two separate delegations to the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Laos, among others.
Merly Ibay, the commission's chief accountant, is currently in-charge of the day-to-day operations, pending formal appointments from the Palace. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)