POC elections heat up

MANILA, Philippines — Reelectionist POC president Mayor Bambol Tolentino is wondering why as an incumbent who served during the last two Olympics, his qualifications are being questioned before the POC Commission on Elections with the polls set at the East Ocean Palace Restaurant, Paranaque, on Friday.

A petition objecting to Tolentino’s candidacy has been submitted to Comelec made up of Atty. Teodoro Kalaw, PSC commissioner Bong Coo and Letran Calamba rector/president Fr. Napoleon Encarnacion. It claimed a basis of “documented governance and financial management failures.”

There were other disqualification cases filed. Chito Loyzaga, who is running against Tolentino, was cited for attending only five of 11 General Assembly meetings the last two years when a candidate is required majority presence. Rommel Miranda, seeking a Board Member seat, is being questioned as his term as kurash secretary-general has apparently expired. Myrna Yao submitted her candidacy for Board Member after Derek Ramsey withdrew but it was questioned for failing to beat the filing deadline by a day. Bob Bachmann’s candidacy for second vice president was initially protested but the objection was withdrawn after IOC confirmed squash is now in the Olympic calendar even if its debut will still take place in 2028.

Tolentino said questioning his capacity as a government official holding a POC position has no ground, noting Sen. Dick Gordon was Red Cross chairman and Vice President Jojo Binay was Boy Scouts head. Tolentino said he’s within the age limit of 75 to qualify and financial reports are certified by the current auditor, Loyzaga, not him. Comelec will rule on the DQ cases before the elections.

Loyzaga has called on stakeholders to support a vision of a reformed and revitalized POC. “I believe that a unified and transparent POC will best serve our athletes, coaches, sports officials and the entire Philippine sports community,” he said.

Tolentino said he stands by performance. “We had one Olympic gold medal in Tokyo then two in Paris,” he said. “If the trend holds, we’ll do three or more in LA. Itong pagtakbo natin is not for us, not for POC, not for me. Lahat ito para sa atleta. We will double or triple whatever it is for the benefit of athletes, para sa kanila ito, para sa bayan.”