GTK withdraws; Peping stays on as POC chief

MANILA, Philippines - Athletics chief Go Teng Kok last night withdrew his bid to run for president in the Philippine Olympic Committee elections tomorrow, paving the way for Jose “Peping” Cojuangco’s continued hold of the POC’s reins.

“After some soul-searching, I have decided to withdraw my bid to run as POC president, it’s really a personal decision,” said Go.

Go’s decision came hours after he filed a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) at Branch 159 of the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, seeking to nullify the POC decision disqualifying him to run in the POC polls at the Alabang Country Club.

Eventually, Go also withdrew the TRO, leaving Cojuangco without an opponent for his bid for a third straight term.

Go, who was to challenge Cojuangco for the presidency, was disqualified from the race by the POC elections committee which still considered the controversial sports official as “persona-non-grata” in the POC.

Go got his notice of disqualification from the POC polls group last Monday.

“The election committee resolved that you are disqualified to run in the POC Election of 2012 on Nov. 30, 2012 as you have been declared persona non grata by the POC Board and your expulsion means that you are no longer a member of the POC general assembly,” said the committee in a letter that was signed by Chaves, Palou and Oca.

But he threatened to stop the polls by seeking a preliminary injunction through the TRO.

Go was expelled from the POC more than a year ago after he brought its top leaders to court following his ouster as karatedo chief. He claimed the ouster was “illegal” and that there was “no due process.”

Meanwhile, Palou dispelled rumors that Manny Lopez had been disqualified from running because he isn’t casting the vote for the national sports association he is representing, which in this case the Amateur Boxing Association of the Phl.

There were reports that ABAP president Ricky Vargas will vote for the group, not Lopez, the former’s predecessor.

“Yes, he can run even if he is not the one casting the vote for his NSA,” said Palou.

It would have been a double blackeye for Lopez had be been disqualified for the second straight time.

Lopez had previously wanted to challenge Cojuangco for the POC presidency but was not qualified since he is no longer a head of an NSA. He ended up seeking reelection as POC first vice president against karatedo head Jose Romasanta.