The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) is calling for another elections following an action-packed extraordinary general assembly meeting yesterday at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) gym in Pasay City.

POC president Joey Romasanta stepped down to give way for a special election within 10 days after some members questioned his qualification to replace Ricky Vargas as POC chief.

Vargas stepped down after eight of the 13 board members demanded explanation over his involvement in the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) Foundation, Inc., a body that aims to spearhead the country’s hosting of the 30th SEA Games without approval from the Olympic council.

Vargas is part of the original incorporators together with POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio, communications director Ed Picson and former POC chief Tom Carrasco as well as Ramon Suzara, Donaldo Caringal, Monica Mitra and Dexter Estacio, who are all members of the inner circle of Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano was initially tasked by the POC, which was then under the leadership of Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, to head the SEA Games organizing committee, but when Vargas took over, the body was incorporated into a foundation outside the control of the Olympic movement.

With Vargas’ resignation, Romasanta, the POC first vice president, took over by virtue of succession. But some members, led by Vargas’ close ally in POC chairman Abraham Tolentino, questioned his legitimacy as he is not a sitting president of a national sports federation. Romasanta stepped down as chief of Philippine Karatedo Federation-NSA to give way for Gretchen Malalad while serving as vice president of Peter Cayco in the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. “I did not ask for this position. It was part of my duty and function as POC first vice president to succeed the POC president, who already resigned,”

said Romasanta before the general membership.

“In fact, I didn’t want this position. I even told the board that I would rather be the CDM (chief

of mission) of the Olympics than become the POC president due to all kinds of problems we are facing right now.”

Still, Romasanta, in a bid to give the organization a fresh start, stepped down, paving the way for other POC board members in attendance like Tolentino, board members Clint Aranas and Cynthia Carrion, treasurer Julian Camacho and auditor Jonne Go to express their willingness to resign.

POC board members Robert Mananquil and Prospero Pichay as well as second vice president Jeff Tamayo, however, failed to make it.

“I am already tired,” said Romasanta, saying that he’s leaving it up to the POC members to decide who will be their rightful leader.

“If they want the leadership, I will give it to them provided that it would go through proper process, which is through election.” But calling for a special election is quite complicated.

According to the POC constitution and by-laws, a special election must be called within 30 days as soon as all positions were declared vacant. But the group of Tolentino wants it to be held “as soon as possible,” or 10 days from now.

Tolentino is said to be eyeing the presidency against Aranas, the GSIS general manager and a prominent member of the board.

I did not ask for this position.

Anotherproblemisthegovernanceoftheelections and voting members.

Usually, it’s former International Olympic Committee representative Frank Elizalde who chairs the elections committee. Elizalde, however, is still abroad, making it hard for him to assemble an election panel in the next 10 days.

And should the elections push through, the POC membership committee of Robert Bachmann has to work doubly hard to review the membership status of all NSAs before being included in the voter’s list.

“We only have five months left before the SEA Games and yet we would still be divided due to the upcoming elections,” said Romasanta.

“Well, it’s up to them. I’m already done with this and I already declared that I won’t be seeking any position.”