Cojuangco election ‘valid, legal’– Pichay

MANILA, Philippines — An ally of Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco yesterday maintained that the Olympic body need not hold a new election, claiming there’s already been a “valid and legal” voting for the top post in 2016.

Surigao Rep. and POC board member Prospero Pichay said Cojuangco was reelected president in a process done by the book.

“We conducted our election in accordance with the by-laws and articles of incorporation of the POC,” Pichay said.

A Pasig Regional Trial Court, acting on the case filed by boxing chief Ricky Vargas against his disqualification from the 2016 POC presidential polls, has declared the procedure null and void and ordered the Olympic body to hold an election for president and chairman on Feb. 23.

But for National Chess Federation of the Philippines head Pichay, the court-ordered voting would be in violation of the POC charter.

“It’s (second election) not in accordance with the by-laws of the POC,” he stressed.

Pichay maintained the camp of the POC chief will appeal the decision and that the ensuing processes will possibly extend beyond the end of Cojuangco’s current term in 2020.

“We’ll appeal to the Court of Appeals all the way to the Supreme Court and by that time, it will be overtaken by events because the POC will already have its (regularly scheduled) elections (in 2020),” he opined.

Pichay voiced his opinion a day after squash chief Robert Bachmann and taekwondo exec Monsour del Rosario expressed their desire to see the current electoral dispute settled.

The two said if a new election pitting Cojuangco and Vargas will solve the issue, then so be it and they also urged the national sports associations to fully support the winner.