Aventajado, ‘Forbes’ bloc want Peping acclaimed

Now they want Jose "Peping" Cojuangco named POC president by acclamation.

Robert Aventajado, chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, is strongly pushing for this "no-election" scenario as the only way to prevent a head-on collision between Cojuangco, of equestrian, and incumbent POC president Celso Dayrit, of fencing, in the elections scheduled in November.

Aventajado, of taekwondo, said the POC should do away with this brewing issue as the country prepares to plunge into action in the Athens Olympics next month and gears up for its huge hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games next year.

"The sooner, the better," Aventajado, a former race car driver and head of flagship projects under the Joseph Estrada administration, was quoted as saying yesterday.

Aventajado first made the suggestion during a luncheon hosted by Cojuangco and attended by leaders of 29 national sports associations (NSAs) last Thursday. The suggestion, according to those present, drew a warm response and some sort of jubilation.

"We should no longer prolong this process of election which is divisive. We should get this issue away as early as possible so we can go on and Peping can start consulting people and start his program," Aventajado explained.

Aventajado cited a similar case which happened in the ’80s when the POC did away with the elections that would have pitted Gov. Jose Sering, of athletics, against Col. Irwin Ver, of bowling.

To avoid a head-on collision and further division within the POC, then badminton president Fidel V. Ramos, who also went on to become the country’s Chief Executive, called for a caucus, leading to Sering’s victory by acclamation.

But for Cojuangco’s victory by acclamation to happen, it should also be established that the former Tarlac congressman really enjoys the support of the majority.

Then a series of meetings would take place on how to ensure that that unity will prevail in the end.

"But Cito (Dayrit) must attend," said Aventajado, adding that Dayrit can finish his term until November and later on even be part of Cojuangco’s team.

"He can stay on as president so there will be the (normal) transition of power. This will be good for Cito," added Aventajado who was one of those considered as a possible candidate for the POC presidency in November.

Dayrit and his allies should all agree to the terms and conditions regarding Cojuangco’s victory by acclamation.

Otherwise, an election will take place. Then unity becomes a question.