Peping proposes straw vote for posts

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. yesterday batted for a straw vote for all positions in the coming POC elections to prevent any misimpression brought about by a long drawn-out campaign period.

“The POC has enjoyed the respect and confidence of the public because it conducts its affairs with parity and without fear or favor. It is thus the moral responsibility of all us sports leaders to guard this sterling reputation even at the height of electoral contest,” said Cojuangco through a statement.

“In the light of this predicament, I propose an immediate straw vote for all the positions open to arrest the growing misimpressions created by a protracted campaign period,” he added.

But taekwondo chief Robert Aventajado, running as chairman under the ticket of shooting head Art Macapagal, laughed off the suggestion.

“Who created the three-man election committee in the first place? What would happen to them?” said Aventajado, proponent of the Philippine Olympic Festival.

Formed last month, the committee is composed of Victorico Chavez, La Salle’s Bro. Bernie Oca and Ateneo’s Ricky Palou.

Harry Angping, running as a vice president of Macapagal, likewise opposed Cojuangco’s suggestion.

“It creates more questions than answers. Why can’t they wait for the POC election, it’s just weeks away anyway,” he said.

Cojuangco, a former congressman who heads the RP equestrian association, said straw voting has been done before in the POC.

“Historically, the POC has conducted straw votes, the result of which have been considered as actual outcome of regular elections,” Cojuangco explained. “The POC has only 40 regular members and years of working together give us the foundation to make appropriate choices ahead of the actual election period.”

POC spokesman Joey Romasanta said the move will settle once and for all who really has the numbers since both the camps of Cojuangco and Macapagal were claiming they have the majority to win the election set Nov. 28.

“The main reason for this is to really prevent this election from becoming too politicized,” Romasanta said.

Romasanta said that whoever wins from the straw vote would be the automatic choice to win via acclamation on the day of the election itself.