Cojuangco’s reign finally ends as Vargas wins polls

JOSE “Peping” Cojuangco’s reign as Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president is finally over after 13 years.

Cojuanco was dethroned yesterday by Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) head Ricky Vargas in the POC elections at the Wack Wack Country Club in Mandaluyong City.

Vargas beat Cojuangco 24 votes to 15 to become the new POC head. His running mate Abraham Tolentino of the Integrated Cycling Federation beat Philippine Table Tennis Federation’s Ting Ledesma with a tally of 23 votes against 15.

“This is an overwhelming experience and I thank everyone who supported my candidacy and that of Bambol Tolentino,” Vargas told ESPN 5. “We’re here for the athletes, we’re here to move on, and we’re here also to unite. That’s what we’re going to work on.”

In November, Cojuanco ran unopposed after Vargas was disqualified from the POC presidency race. However, Conjuanco’s win was declared by the Pasig City Regional Trial Court (RTC) as invalid, paving the way for a reelection.

Cojuangco then wrote the IOC, citing government interference by the court but was told by Pere Miro, the IOC deputy director general and NOC relations director, to convene a general assembly to resolve the matter.

During the general assembly last Feb. 19, the POC decided to heed the court order and hold an election on Feb. 23. A day before the election, the POC elections commission, headed by Frank Elizalde, decided to let Vargas run.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman and basketball legend Mon Fernandez, one of Cojuanco’s biggest critics, was elated with change of leadership.

“(It’s a) victory for sports and the athletes,” Fernandez told SunStar Cebu.

Fernandez said that Vargas called him after his victory and told him that the first move will be to have the POC audited.

“There are many things that we will be discussing. We will make changes for the athletes. This is for Philippine sports to succeed and be one again,” Vargas told ESPN 5. “As the chairman said, reconciliation is very important at this point - working with PSC, reconciling with all the hurts that this process has gone through.”

Sports patron Manny Pangilinan has also reportedly given Vargas P20 million as initial funding for his new role in Philippine sports. (EKA)

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