Asaphil heeds POC call for elections

Heeding the recommendation of the Philippine Olympic Committee legal counsel, officers of the national softball association have agreed to conduct their National Convention and elections on July 22 and comply with the provision of their constitution and by-laws that was violated by an earlier attempt to choose a new set of leaders.

POC lawyer Emigdio Tanjuatco, who assessed the validity of the previous ASAPHIL polls and the opposition made by two directors of the association, cited the flaws of the May 11 exercise and advised the POC executive committee to require the association to call for a valid annual regular meeting and subsequently elect officers.

In his letter to the POC executive committee, Tanjuatco said the provisions in Asaphil’s by laws were disregarded.

"The non-compliance with the 15-day notice rule deprived the Asaphil members who did not participate in the 2006 National Softball Open of their right to vote for the organization’s directors. This is a basic right of each member, which cannot be trifled with. The denial of this basic right, through the unjustified failure to comply with the bylaws, invalidated the call and consequently the May 11 annual regular membership meeting itself," he said.