Should POC be final arbiter?

There is an existing POC resolution empowering the national leadership to act as final arbiter in NSA election disputes. A move was recently made to overturn the resolution but it was rejected in a majority vote by the POC General Assembly.

The resolution authorizes the POC to be the final arbiter of all intra-NSA conflicts and disputes. But with distrust prevailing in the ranks of a divided house, several disgruntled members tried to kill the resolution. An 18-14 vote kept it alive.

Philippine National Shooting Association president Art Macapagal led the campaign to suspend the resolution. He ran against reelectionist Jose Cojuangco Jr. for the POC presidency late last year and lost in a close contest.

Macapagal explained why he spearheaded the move.

“We sought to suspend the resolution which allowed the POC leadership to get involved in the NSA election process even prior to the elections because while originally well-intentioned, it has turned out to be the cause of the disputes now arising in some NSAs,” he said.

“That resolution has actually encouraged rebellions in some NSAs. All that is needed for the rebellion to succeed is to get support from the POC leadership. That resolution can stand much improvement and I hope the POC leadership will heed our call for its suspension and review before it inflicts further damage to the POC as an institution and unity in the Olympic family.”

The implication is the incumbent POC leadership has used the resolution to play politics and protect embattled allies from being removed from office by their opponents. This has led to accusations of abuse of authority and partiality in deciding on leadership disputes.

Macapagal said to achieve unity, the POC leadership must be neutral and impartial in NSA leadership issues.

“Fair play is an important value promoted by the IOC,” he continued. “It is the responsibility of the POC leadership to set the example of fair play.”

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Macapagal said he has confronted the POC leadership on the issue of interference in NSA election disputes because it smacks of partiality and politicking.

“We will continue to engage the leadership on other policy-related issues which we believe are wrong and can be improved,” he went on. “On the other hand, if we believe that the policy is a good one, we will support it. Our engagements have nothing to do with the outcome of the last POC elections.”

Macapagal said it disturbs him that while some rebellions in NSAs gain the support of the POC leadership, legitimate grievances against NSA leaders, friendly or supportive of the POC leadership, are ignored.

Regarding his chairmanship of the POC Ethics Commission, he said no less than the POC president had acknowledged he did a good job.

“I read in the newspapers that Mr. Cojuangco said he would meet with me after the elections,” he said. “The meeting has not happened and I have been replaced as Ethics Commission chairman.”

IOC representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde took over from Macapagal as the Ethics Commission chairman.

If the POC leadership is not the final arbiter in NSA election disputes, Macapagal said it should be the POC Arbitration Commission.

“Ideally, the following process should prevail – the dispute is brought to the attention of the Arbitration Commission with appeal to the General Assembly and finally, appeal to the sports court,” he said. “Local courts should be avoided although they have jurisdiction as far as SEC-registered NSAs are concerned. This is the disadvantage of a policy requiring registration.

“But if NSAs do not have faith in the objectivity, neutrality and impartiality of the POC process, I cannot blame them if they take the court option. The solution is to have clear rules of arbitration and an impartial chairman and members of the Commission.”

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Macapagal said his campaign for reforms is not motivated by vengeance. His record as a business executive and sports official speaks for itself – he is well-respected in professional and social circles. Macapagal isn’t known to be a mud-slinger. When discussing issues, he sticks to issues, nothing else. He has a reputation to uphold, not only as the President’s half-brother, but also as a distinguished alumnus of San Beda College and the Asian Institute of Management where he has been cited for his achievements.

“The POC is an organization of leaders of NSAs,” he said. “We are the POC and it is our collective and individual responsibility to contribute to transforming the POC into an organization we can all be proud of. If the POC leadership will only assume that we are well-meaning, too, it can be more understanding, open-minded, objective and embracing. Then, we can look forward to unity and faster progress in Philippine sports.”

As a parting shot, Macapagal said he is all for synchronizing the election schedule of the NSAs and POC to four-year terms to avoid the incidence of POC officials losing NSA mandates in the middle of serving their terms.