PASA election illegal — Ilagan

Monchito Ilagan is confident he’ll get a fresh mandate as president of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association (PASA), after which he intends to extend a conciliatory hand to a small group in the association, which he said "is attempting to wrest control of the PASA by unlawful means."

He said that the PASA in compliance with its duly established rules and regulations has sent notices to its board of directors for its election of officers set Saturdy at Villa Escudero Resort in Tiaong, Quezon.

"I have the full support of our regional directors. I expect them to come for the election. Once my presidency is upheld, tatawagan ko lahat ng gustong i-oust ako at itatanong ko kung ano ang problema at pagusapan namin," said Ilagan in a press conference he called yesterday after an alleged special PASA election was held in Cebu Saturday installing Mark Joseph as new PASA president.

Ilagan said that the exercise was illegal since "the election was called by persons other than the incumbent and duly elected officers of the PASA."

"It was illegal. In the first place yung letter of invitation pa lang for the meeting ay illegal na dahil hindi mo kilala kung sino ang pumirma. And there was no quorum in that meeting since only four PASA board members attended the meeting," said Ilagan.

PASA secretary-general Chito Rivera said the PASA board members in the Cebu meeting were Rodney Baretto of Iligan, Dee Dee Gonzalez of Davao, Leon Go of Cagayan de Oro and Baby Sy of Bicol. According to Rivera, Sy abstained from voting.

Rivera also said those who allegedly made the quorum in the Cebu meeting were ousted PASA directors Ike Buan (National Capital Region), Eddie Ledesma (Region 6), Ral Rosario (Region 1) and Dale Law (Region 7). Ilagan said he will give the reasons on the ousters of these former directors "in due time."

"As far as our handbook is concerned Mark Joseph is not qualified to run as PASA president because he’s not a regional swimming association president. Ang grupo rin nila ang gumawa ng handbook namin, tapos hindi nila susundin," said Ilagan.

Ilagan maintained there’s no impasse in the swimming association at the moment since he has received a certification from the Philippine Olympic Committee that recognizes him as the legitimate PASA president. POC secretary general Romeo Ribano issued the certification Monday.

He also said the issue would affect the country’s campaign in the coming Southeast Asian Games. "Hindi naman kasi kasama ang mga bata sa gulo," he said.

Ilagan said the agenda of past directors in the Cebu meeting was simply to grab power.

"The only issue against me was one on Timmy Chua and I don’t think it’s enough to call for a vote of no confidence, " said Ilagan.

NCR Swimming Association president Bernadette Abejo, a lawyer, said the Timmy Chua case is still under investigation. It will be remembered that Chua competed in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Hong Kong without the knowledge of the PASA. Chua met the standards and gained a berth in the Athens Games.

On talks that the other PASA group is more qualified to run the association with its members made up of former national swimmers, Abejo said: "This is not about personality. There are rules, which are very clear. All we have to do is follow it. That simple."

She added: "I don’t know why they’re making it a battle of personality. It doesn’t necessary mean that because they’re Olympians, they are the best managers."