Untangling the mess
The Philippine Olympic Committee executive council is calling for a board meeting to discuss some pressing issues, including POC president Ricky Vargas' involvement in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation Inc. and the questionable transaction with the country's official outfitter in the 30th SEA Games.
In a notice sent to POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio on 6 June, eight of the 12 members of the POC executive council want to sit down in a regular board meeting on 18 June at the POC headquarters in Pasig City to give Vargas a chance to explain his side on some important matters.
Topping the list of agenda in the 10 a.m. gab is his involvement in Phisgoc Foundation, a body that aims to serve as chief organizer of the biennial meet even without a formal blessing from the POC executive board.
Based on the Articles of Incorporation filed by the Phisgoc Foundation to the Securities and Exchange Commission on 2 July 2018, Vargas, Gregorio, POC communications director Ed Picson and former POC chairman Tom Carrasco were included as incorporators even without board approval from the POC executive council.
Interestingly, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, who was appointed as chairman of the Phisgoc ad hoc committee in 2017, was not among the incorporators.
Another point of discussion will be the questionable Asics contract.
The POC executive council claimed that it has no hand in striking a sponsorship deal with Asics. In fact, the quoted price of one set of competition uniform is said to be unreasonably higher than the store's suggested retail price.
In the request made by Phisgoc Foundation to the Philippine Sports Commission, the unit price of one set of competition uniform amounts to P51,511 while the quotation of the same company when it made a bid for the 18th Asian Games last year was only P25,000.
The PSC even found P25,000 quite expensive so it awarded the contract to a different supplier — Adidas.
In a special board meeting last 30 April at the GSIS main office, the POC executive council gave Vargas five working days to explain. He, however, failed to comply and called for a general assembly meeting on 27 May, instead.
Still, nothing was resolved.
Instead of shedding light and help his fellow board members untangle the mess, Vargas fired an expletive-laced speech before other members of the POC. To wrap it up, he recalled the appointment of key members of the POC executive council whom he accused of destabilizing his leadership.
POC first vice president Joey Romasanta of karate was sacked as chief of mission to the Tokyo Olympics while former POC president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco of equestrian was fired as chairman of the constitutional amendments committee.
Also stripped of position was SEA Games chief of mission Monsour del Rosario of taekwondo, SEA Games deputy chief of mission Charlie Ho of netball and POC membership committee chairman Robert Bachmann of squash.
*(Photo caption: PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas is being invited to a regular board meeting on 18 June at the POC office in Pasig City to shed light on some issues that hound the country's preparation for its hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.)*
### Secretary general Pato (Gregorio) is calling for a meeting on the 17th.
Save for Del Rosario who filed his resignation shortly to give way for PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, Romasanta, Cojuangco, Ho and Bachmann refused to recognize Vargas' decision as it was made without the approval of the POC board.
"We have to resolve a lot of issues as we head to the crucial stretch of our SEA Games preparation," board member Clint Aranas of archery told *Daily Tribune* in an interview.
"We are here not to undermine the POC president. All we want is for him to explain and let us help him resolve all of these issues to protect him and the POC as an institution."
Aside from Aranas, also signing the notice of meeting are Romasanta, Cojuangco, second vice president Jeff Tamayo of soft tennis, treasurer Julian Camacho of wushu, auditor Jonne Go of canoe-kayak and board members Prospero Pichay of chess and Robert Mananquil of billiards and snookers.
"We have to be very careful because we are also part of the POC and we will also be held accountable if something happens," said Aranas.
"He is calling for transparency, accountability and good-governance. This is now the perfect opportunity for him to shed light on the issues and resolve them one by one. I hope the POC president can help us in this endeavor and show that we are united as one."
Vargas said Gregorio is also calling for a separate meeting on 17 June, a day before the talks set by majority of the POC board members.
"Secretary general Pato (Gregorio) is calling for a meeting on the 17th," he said without elaborating whether he will attend the regular board meeting called by eight of the 12 members of the Olympic council.
"Please check with Pato the final schedule."
