Athletics chief Go Teng Kok will be allowed to run in the coming Philippine Olympic Committee elections provided that he can show the Supreme Court ruling that rejected the POC’s decision declaring him “persona non-grata.”
POC election committee member Ricky Palou said the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association head was given until Nov.29 to submit a copy of the high tribunal’s decision, a day before the POC polls on Nov.30 at the Alabang Country Club.
Palou made it clear that the copy of the ruling should be authenticated by the SC itself. Go is challenging Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., the incumbent POC president who is seeking a third straight term.
“He is not allowed to run at the moment. We will wait for the SC decision regarding the matter,” said Palou, a high-ranking Ateneo sports official.
“As soon as we find the documents valid, we will give him the go-signal. He (Go) can campaign if he believes he is eligible and he has the documents to back him up,” he added.
The POC comelec, headed by former congressman Victorico Chaves, also cleared other candidates whose eligibility were questioned.
“Nobody got disqualified. Everybody is eligible to run,” said Palou.
The qualification of cycling chief and Tagaytay City mayor Abraham”Bambol” Tolentino, Generoso Dungo of volleyball and chess president Prospero Pichay were under the microscope of the election committee, which also has Bro. Bernard Oca of La Salle as member.
Tolentino is running as 2nd VP, Pichay as auditor and Dungo as executive board member.
Both Tolentino, the secretary general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, and Pichay belong to the same national sports association and the election committee will approve only one candidate from an NSA to run.
POC 1st vice president Manny Lopez earlier said Dungo should be qualified to run since he served the Philippine Volleyball Federation as vice president over three years before he became president of the PVF almost two years ago.
According to Section 12, Article VII of the POC constitution and by-laws, an executive board member must be the president, secretary-general or vice president for at least two years of an NSA
“We tackled everything from Manny Lopez to Joey Romasanta and Tolentino and found them eligible to run,” said Palou.
Under Cojuangco’s ticket are Tom Carrasco of triathlon (chair), Joey Romasanta of karatedo (1st VP), Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis (2nd VP), Julian Camacho of wushu (treasurer), Pichay (auditor) and executive board members Dave Carter (judo), Cynthia Carrion (gymnastics), Jonne Go (canoe-kayak) and sailing’s Ernesto Echauz.
The opposition ticket has not fielded anybody against Cojuangco but has Monico Puentevella of weightlifting as reelectionist candidate for POC chair, Lopez (reelectionist 1st VP)Tolentino, Romy Ribano of squash (treasurer), Godofredo Galindez of golf (auditor) and executive board members Victor Africa of fencing, baseball’s Hector Navasero, Echauz and Dungo. /INQUIRER