Ricky Vargas formally resigned as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) following an executive council meeting, where 8 of the 13 board members were set to question his involvement in various issues hounding the country's hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

In his letter submitted to POC board members, Vargas admitted that there are sports leaders who have the time and inclination to lead the POC as it enters the crucial stretch of its preparation for the prestigious biennial meet this November.

He said he already requested POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio to assist the incoming president in former POC first vice president Joey Romasanta in a smooth transition of leadership until he formally appoints his own secretary general.

Romasanta has yet to appoint a secretary general, but Charlie Ho is said to be on top of the list.

"This is to inform the executive board of the Philippine Olympic Committee that I am tendering my irrevocable resignation from the post of president of the organization effective immediately," said Vargas, who was elected in a court-ordered election in February last year.

"After much introspection, I have determined that there would be other sports leaders who have the time and inclination needed to lead the POC more effectively."

Romasanta said it's truly an honor to become the POC president, but it's going to be very challenging as the country prepares for the biennial meet in five month's time.

"First, we need to regroup and find out what we have and what we don't have as far as the SEA Games preparation is concerned," said Romasanta, a seasoned sport leader who used to handle the *Project: Gintong Alay* during the administration of former President Corazon Aquino.

"We are hopeful that we can properly organize the SEA Games despite this sudden change of leadership."

Vargas resignation came as a surprise.

POC board members are questioning him about his involvement in various issues, especially in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation, Inc. and the questionable contract with a company that aims to become the official outfitter in the SEA Games.

It was found out that Vargas is one of the eight original incorporators of Phisgoc Foundation together with Gregorio and POC communications director Ed Picson. POC board members raised a howl on his involvement since the foundation doesn't have recognition from the Olympic movement.

Aside from that, Vargas is also being questioned on a deal that Phisgoc Foundation entered into with Asics as well his statement on the media and behavior during the POC general assembly on 27 May where he withdrew the appointment of some key POC board members.

With that, the POC board members set a regular board meeting to give Vargas chance to explain his side, which came after the International Olympic Committee gave him a call to instruct him to meet his executive council.

### We are hopeful that we can properly organize the SEA Games despite this sudden change of leadership.

But he responded by tendering his irrevocable resignation.

"It came as a surprise," said POC board member Clint Aranas, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) general manager who also stands as the spokesperson of the group.

"All we want is to have him answer these issues so we can help him. We know we can't proceed with our SEA Games hosting if we have a lot of internal issues. Instead, he filed his resignation, which caught all of us unaware."

Romasanta and his group paid a courtesy call to Philippine Sports Commission chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, who is also the designated SEA Games chief of mission.

Then, he set a general assembly meeting on 25 June at the GSIS gymnasium to update the members on the status of the organization as well as seek help in expediting the technical handbook needed for the SEA Games.

"We want to hit the ground running," said Aranas, adding that they will also affirm their appointment of SEA Games organizing body chairman Alan Peter Cayetano pursuant to the POC charter and by-laws.

"The POC is the franchise holder of the SEA Games. That's why we're affirming the appointment of Cong. Cayetano as chairman of the organizing committee, and not as part of Phisgoc Foundation, which we do not recognize."

*(Photo caption: RICKY Vargas steps down as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee following an executive council meeting yesterday at the POC office in Philsports compound in Pasig City.)*