MAJORITY of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executive board doubt if a special elections will push through on Friday following a directive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to formalize the conduct of the polls.
POC secretary general Charlie Ho said the Olympic body received a letter from the IOC date June 29 requesting for formalities that would set the stage for the special election.
The letter was signed by IOC director of Olympic Solidarity and NOC relations James MacLeod and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) director general and technical director Hussain Al-Musallam.
POC chairman Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino has called for a special election on Friday at the Golden Bay Restaurant in Pasay City following the resignations of seven members of the POC executive board led by himself and first vice-president Joey Romasanta.
Romasanta took over in an acting capacity by virtue of succession after Ricky Vargas stepped down as president.
The resignations occurred last June 25 at the GSIS Gymnasium during an extraordinary general assembly which was later declared invalid due to a technicality.
However, Ho said the IOC letter contained a request that all resignations in the executive board be made formal through a signed letter by the officials concerned.
The IOC also requested that the POC convene in an extraordinary general assembly to address the filling up of vacancies in the presence of an observer from the IOC and OCA.
With the IOC letter, Ho said that it would be impossible to hold Friday’s POC special election with only four days remaining.
So far, only three out of the 12 members of the executive board have submitted written resignations in Vargas as president, and Clint Aranas and Cynthia Carrion as board members.
“Medyo malabo. The IOC set the parameters in an election that is going to happen. They have stated that they are going to send an observer in case we will have a general assembly,” said Ho, speaking on behalf of the board, in a press briefing in the middle of the POC special board meeting on Monday at the GSIS Office.
“The IOC will only accept written, expressed resignations. We are instructed to clarify what are the positions that are vacant … We have yet to receive the resignation letters. It should not be verbal or implied or through social media. That’s what the IOC requires, a written resignation,” said Ho.
The special board meeting on Monday was attended by nine members of the executive board with Tolentino absent due to a prior commitment in Tagaytay City.
Because of the letter, Ho warned that any ‘election’ that will take place on Friday will be invalid, and that the IOC “will reserve the right to take any appropriate action vis-à-vis the POC.”
“It will be an invalid meeting and that will go against the directive of the IOC. All NSAs must be cautioned from participating in whatever activities that are not sanctioned by the IOC as per the June 29 letter,” said Ho.
Ho made it clear the POC executive board wants the issue to be settled as soon as possible but under the correct process.
“The POC wants this to get over and done with. We want the election to happen. It is our duty to make sure that it complies with the POC bylaws and constitution. We cannot go outside. Kailangan nasa tamang proseso. Whoever wins, we will support,” said Ho.
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