Olympic body resumes process to resolve conflict

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) takes the next step in the process prescribed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in resolving its long-standing leadership squabble by holding today’s extraordinary general assembly.

The POC membership convenes at 11 a.m. at the Manila Golf Club in Makati where it’s set to deliberate on matters pertaining to the July 28 special elections with IOC member Narinder Dhruv Batra observing the proceedings for the IOC and OCA.

Based on the agenda set by the executive board, the POC will “acknowledge and confirm” the actions taken by the board per IOC/OCA directive and “commit to support until the completion of the process.”

The remaining officers in the executive board met last July 8 to form a three-man election committee (ELECOM) composed of former Comelec chair Rene Sarmiento, Fr. Vic Calvo of Letran, and one representative from the Philippine Disputes Resolution Center. They also formally called for today’s extraordinary GA preparatory to the voting for the positions vacated by president Ricky Vargas, chairman Bambol Tolentino, and board members Cynthia Carrion and Clint Aranas.

The POC is looking for a solution to its woes while the country is preparing for the hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.

The Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) itself is hit by controversies lately with allegations of fund misuse.

Phisgoc Foundation Inc. CEO Ramon “Tats” Suzara yesterday denied what he called misleading claims, stressing the organization has “complied with all the directives issued by President Duterte” and  has put in place “safeguards to ensure funds for the event are all accounted for.”

He maintained that both the Philippine Sports Commission and the POC are properly represented in Phisgoc and take part in all decisions and also made it clear the P5-billion budget approved by Congress as well as the P1-billion augmentation fund approved by the President are all lodged with the PSC, not Phisgoc.

“All government funds are duly accounted for, and are being disbursed in accordance with government procurement procedures performed either by the PSC or the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as proposed by Phisgoc chairman, Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano, to ensure that every peso allotted  for the SEA Games are wisely and properly spent,” Suzara said.