Justifying a third term

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. is seeking a third term to stay in office until the next Olympics in 2016 and at the moment, there doesn’t seem to be a challenger in sight.

The consensus is anyone who dares to oppose Cojuangco and bank on at least a 50-50 chance of victory must be supported by a formidable business tycoon with a special place in his heart for sports. That tycoon can only be PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan who is chairman of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and president of Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas. 

So when Cojuangco recently floated the idea in media that he is offering Pangilinan partnership to co-manage the POC, was he trying to avert an alienation? Through POC spokesman Joey Romasanta, Cojuangco invited Pangilinan to seek either the chairmanship or presidency of the organization. Whichever position Pangilinan doesn’t choose, the presumption is Cojuangco will fill the bill. 

Everyone knows that the POC is almost a full-time job and as it is, Pangilinan has a lot on his plate. Cojuangco’s offer of a partnership can only mean that he will remain in charge as chairman or president because obviously, it would be unfair to expect Pangilinan to hold office in the POC every day. Was Cojuangco’s offer just a clever maneuver to enlist a potential opponent’s backer as an ally? With Pangilinan on Cojuangco’s side, it doesn’t seem likely anyone will have a chance to unseat the incumbent.

But Pangilinan isn’t the type to be boxed in or outwitted. Was Cojuangco’s public invitation an attempt to draw Pangilinan out in the open and allay fears that he’ll support a challenger whether silently or not? Could it be that Cojuangco’s gambit is if Pangilinan doesn’t accept his offer, at least he’ll be neutral in the POC elections?

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Cojuangco will be 78 on Sept. 19 and 82 at the close of the Rio Olympics in 2016. In the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the term of the president is for eight years renewal once for four. The age limit for IOC members is 70 except for those who were named from 1966 to 1999 as their limit is 80. Jacques Rogge has been the IOC president since 2001 and is stepping down next year. 

The concept of a president staying in office too long presumes a lack of leadership ability from others. A president should know when it’s time to give way to the next generation particularly if his track record of performance is dismal. For a president to remain in power, he should show a high level of leadership quality and vision that will justify his incumbency beyond the basic reason of continuity.

The POC will hold its elections on Nov. 30. While 43 National Sports Association (NSA) heads will vote for the POC president and other officers, the issue of accountability to the public cannot be ignored. If the NSA heads are beholden to the POC administration for their own positions, it will be difficult for them to vote for a new leadership – their loyalty is to the hand that feeds them. But NSA heads must be reminded that they are accountable to the public – their vote must be in the public interest, not theirs. In the same way, those running for office in the POC must realize that they’re accountable to the public, too, because sports is such an important element in nation-building. Occupying a position in the POC involves a public trust whether you like it or not. 

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For an incumbent to be reelected, these questions must be answered:

Can you justify another term based on performance? Is the POC stable and devoid of leadership squabbles at the NSA level? Is there peace and order in the POC? Are there no pending international issues of dispute related to the country begging to be resolved? 

Does the Philippines enjoy global or Asian or even Southeast Asian recognition as an influential power in sports? Under your watch, has the Philippines improved on its performance at the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and Olympics? Are the NSAs on track for a bright future? Are the national athletes cared and their necessities provided for? Is there a smooth relationship with the Philippine Sports Commission? Does the POC enjoy government support and the confidence of the private sector so that a call for assistance will not go unheeded?

Is the POC’s vision for the future a clear path for the country’s sports program to progress? Are the NSAs not playing favorites in choosing national athletes and is “palakasan” not a way of life among them? Is there financial stability in the POC? Is there administrative order in the POC? Are democratic principles followed in the POC General Assembly meetings? Are you committed to divorce politics from sports? Has your passion for sports not waned through the years?

Are you decisive in exercising authority and objective in settling issues of dispute? Can you commit to the POC presidency on a full-time basis? Can you stand by your record of integrity and honesty in serving the POC with absolute transparency? Can you vouch for the integrity and honesty of your POC officers?

If the answers to those questions are yes, then there’s no doubt Cojuangco deserves a third term as POC president. If the answers are a mixture of yes and no, then maybe, it’s time to consider an alternative.