PASA chief backs out of POC deal

The leadership crisis at the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association is far from over.

PASA president Monchito Ilagan yesterday backed out of an earlier agreement that would have set in motion an election process aimed at finally resolving the leadership row in the association.

"I’ve consulted with the board and I was advised to withdraw from that agreement a week after I hesitantly signed it," Ilagan told The STAR, hours after POC chief Jose "Peping" Cojuangco yesterday announced the said agreement in an executive board meeting in Makati City.

In the press statement and agreement signed by Robert Aventajado, who replaced cycling’s Bert Lina as arbitration committee chair following the latter’s appointment as Customs Commissioner, both Ilagan and Mark Joseph agreed to conduct a regional election in the six "hot spots" regions in two months under the supervision of the POC.

Regions told not to hold an election are Reg. 3 (German Ebue), Reg. 4 (Monchito Ilagan), Reg. 5 (Teresita Sy), Reg. 10 (Leon Go), Reg. 11 (Sylvaine Gonzales) and Reg. 12 (Rodney Baretto).

After the regional elections, the board will then meet and elect the president — expected to be disputed by Joseph and Ilagan — and other officials of the PASA.

"Kung siya manalo eh di siya," said Cojuangco referring to Ilagan.

The 10-point agreement, signed at Cojuangco’s posh residence in Makati City last Feb. 28, was witnessed by Aventajado and POC counsel Emigdio Tanjuatco Jr. In fact, there was even a picture of Ilagan and Joseph shaking hands with the three witnesses at the back.

Curiously, the agreement has provisions ordered both parties not to "question the decision in any forum outside the POC."