Ilagan denies POC body findings

The regional board of directors of the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association was not systematically changed before the 2004 election, as what the POC arbitration commission announced on Monday, according to embattled PASA president Monchito Ilagan.

"The PASA board composed of different regions is autonomous and they can have their own elections," said Ilagan in reaction to the POC arbitration commission’s announcement, prompting it to install Mark Joseph as the new PASA president.

"It is impossible to control the decision of the board because they’re independent and they just re-elected me last year to be their president," Ilagan added.

Robert Aventajado, chairman of the POC, announced Monday that the POC executive board has reaffirmed the 2004 election of Joseph based on the findings of the Olympic body’s arbitration committee.

The arbitration committee "found that Joseph was qualified to be president of PASA and was indeed elected by the legitimate PASA board."

The commission also reportedly found that Ilagan, who was legitimately elected to the PASA top post in 2002, systematically changed the composition of the PASA board gearing up for his ‘re-election’ in 2004.

National Capital Region Swimming Association president Atty. Bernadette Abejo, a member of the PASA board, said that according to the PASA technical handbook, an election will be held in every region before an Olympic year.

Therefore, last year’s election was legitimate because the regional presidents, composing the PASA board, were elected first before they elected the new set of PASA officers, Abejo contended.

"In every region, there are clubs which are accredited by PASA, and they are the ones which cast vote. In short, we’re autonomously elected by different clubs so there is no manipulation in last year’s election to PASA," Abejo explained.

There are 13 active regions all over the country.

Ilagan received a certificate of POC recognition last year during president Celso Dayrit’s time.

After learning that Joseph didn’t hold the position of a regional director, Dayrit turned down the appeal of the "rebel group" who held its own illegal election in Cebu. Dayrit explained that those who went there were people no longer connected with the board.