May dahilan si Aranas

MANILA, Philippines — Sa isang eleksyon ay mahalaga ang numero ng mga boboto sa isang kandidato.

Sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum webcast kahapon ay hindi nagbigay ng numero si Atty. Jesus Clint Aranas ng archery sa paghahamon niya kay incumbent president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino ng cycling para sa Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) top post.

“I think what is very important is the heart behind why we are running, the heart why we are doing this,” wika ni Aranas. “We are offering an alternative. If you want to perpetuate for another four years this kind of leadership.”

Kabuuang 54 National Sports Associations (NSAs) ang mga voting members sa POC election na nakatakda sa Nobyembre 27.

Ayon kay Aranas, dating president at general manager ng Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), may ilang NSAs siyang ipapa-disqualify.

“There will be disqualifications definitely because some organizations have been suspended. They get their membership dues using another receipt,” pagbubunyag ni Aranas. “We will be filing our disqualification soon, not because it’s election period. You had four years to set your act together. Do it right,” dagdag pa ng pangulo ng World Archery Philippines (WAP).

Nasa tiket ni Aranas para lumaban sa kani-kanilang posisyon sa POC sina Steve Hontiveros (chairman) ng handball, Philip Ella Juico (first vice president) ng athle-tics, Ada Milby (second vice president) ng rugby, Monico Puentevella (auditor) ng weightlifting, Julian Camacho (treasurer) ng wushu at sina Robert Bachmann ng squash, Charlie Ho ng netball, Robert Mananquil ng billiards at Jeff Tamayo ng soft tennis (POC Board).

Tinalo ni Tolentino si Juico, 26-18 sa isang snap eletion noong Hulyo ng 2019 matapos ang biglaang pagbibitiw ni boxing chief Ricky Vargas.

Kasama ni Tolentino sa kanyang grupo sina Tom Carrasco (chairman) ng triathlon, Al Panlilio (first VP) ng basketball, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (2nd VP) ng fencing at modern pentathlon, Cynthia Carrion (treasurer) ng gymnastics, Chito Loyzaga (auditor) ng baseball at sina Raul Canlas ng surfing, Dave Carter ng judo, Prospero ‘Butch’ Pichay ng chess at Pearl Managuelod (muay) para sa POC Board.

Ang listahan ng mga kandidato ay inaprubahan ng POC election committee sa pangunguna ni chairman Teodoro Kalaw IV.