With former president Ricky Vargas no longer in power, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) executive board is pushing for some key amendments in its tripartite agreement with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc).

In a draft of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) obtained by Daily Tribune, the POC board members, who are now headed by acting president Joey Romasanta, want to remove the first provision that states that they stand as guarantors to the financial obligations of the organizing body.

The POC wants to have it dropped as it maintained that Phisgoc is a body that is purely independent from the POC.

In fact, when Jose “Peping” Cojuangco lost in a court-ordered election last year, Vargas served as prime mover in the formation of Phisgoc without the knowledge of the POC executive board.

He was one of the eight incorporators of Phisgoc together with POC secretary general Patrick Gregorio, POC communications director Ed Picson, former POC chairman Tom Carrasco and four of the trusted deputies of Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.

Vargas, however, already resigned, paving the way for Romasanta to assume his position while

the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) set the stage for the special elections on 28 July.

Romasanta sat down with PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and deputy executive director Guillermo Iroy late Wednesday, where he stated his wish to have their names removed as Phisgoc guarantors.

“Phisgoc is not in any way connected to the POC. We are not privy to the transactions and agreements that Phisgoc entered into in the past so there’s no way for us to stand as guarantors in its financial obligations with the government,” said Romasanta, an old hand in Philippine sports who also played a crucial role in the country’s successful hosting of the biennial meet in 2005.

“This has been our stand ever since — even during our previous discussion with Sec. Cayetano and (Executive) Sec. (Salvador) Medialdea. And I think they fully understand where we’re coming from.”

Aside from refusing to serve as a guarantor, the POC also wants to control the technical aspect of the Games and serve as an oversight body to Phisgoc.

After all, the SEA Games Federation Council, the IOC and OCA recognize the local Olympic council as the franchise-holder that has the sole authority to organize the staging of the SEA Games in the country.

“The NSAs (national sports associations) know the technical aspects of the Games more than anybody,” said Romasanta.

“These NSAs would be liable to their respective international federations if something goes wrong in

the officiating and other technical aspects of the SEA Games. I think it is only just and fair to have the NSAs and POC oversee the running of the Games.”

“But as far as the financial aspects are concerned, we’re taking a hands-off approach. As much as possible, we don’t want government money to pass through us so we’re leaving it up to the PSC and Phisgoc to talk about it.”

The POC approval is crucial to the success of the SEA Games as the Commission on Audit requires the tripartite agreement to be signed by all parties before the budget amounting to P6 billion could be released.

Sources privy to the discussion said Ramirez is open to amending the MOA to make it acceptable to all parties.

Ramirez, who is also the chief of mission of the

Philippine delegation, is set to call for another meeting among the legal counsels of the POC, PSC and Phisgoc to draft an amended version and finally shift the country’s preparations of the SEA Games to a higher gear.

These NSAs would be liable to their respective international federations if something goes wrong in the officiating and other technical aspects of the SEA Games.

“I think it can be done,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to speak.

“Chairman Ramirez is open to revising the MOA and is doing his best to come up with a perfect work around to make it acceptable to all parties.”