IT’S the long shot of all long shots, but I hope the disqualification letter filed by Philippine Football Federation president Nonong Araneta will finally be the red card that boots Peping Cojuangco out of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the field of Philippine sports, for good.
And how apt it would be. Poetic justice even.
Citing that the POC respects and observes the International Olympic Committee guidelines, Nonong pointed out the provisions in the IOC charter on good governance and the democratic process in seeking the disqualification of Peping.
Democratic process, per the IOC, means elections should be governed by clear, fair and transparent rules and access to opposing candidates should be encouraged.
These are the very things that are absent in the POC, leading to the clamor for change in the first place.
Not only are there unclear rules and unfair access, the POC incumbents are disqualifying the opposition, making sure they win an election that has no opposing parties.
How democratic is that?
Though the POC Comelec heard Ricky Vargas’ appeal last Nov. 3, it promised to issue a ruling within 24 hours but as of 72 hours, no ruling has been publicized. Will the Comelec only reveal it on Nov. 25? On election day?
Also, the whole election process hinges on the words “active member,” a rule so vague that it defies the IOC provision on clear, fair and transparent rules.
Comelec interprets an active member as one who is physically present in the POC assemblies but in the POC family, a president doesn’t represent himself as an individual but his national sport association. And ABAP, which Vargas heads, was represented in the general assemblies by its sec-gen.
Citing the unclear definition, Nonong countered with one of his own and said Abap, compared to Peping’s NSA, has won numerous medals internationally, while equistrian’s last achievements was sending Tony Leviste to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 Olympics and an Asiad gold in 2002 by Mikee Cojuangco.
So Peping, Nonong countered, is less an active member than Vargas and should be disqualified.
He also pointed out the IOC limit on a president’s term—first term of eight years renewable by four—a total of 12. Peping has been in office for 12. Though he didn’t cite that in his final paragraph, he wrote that, I think, to point out the obvious, Peping has been in power for 12 years and should go.
Walang forever sa POC, Peping.
(mikelimpag@gmail.com)