TIME FOR CHANGE

Ricky Vargas (right most) is elected new POC president.
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Cebu sports officials hopeful with Vargas-led POC administration

Cebu’s sports officials are hoping that the new administration of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) headed by newly elected President Victorico “Ricky” Vargas can give the Philippine sports a brighter future.

Vargas, the president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), beat the controversial Jose “Peping” Cojuangco for the top POC post. Vargas gained 24 votes from the 43 qualified voters that included national sports associations and athletes while the 83-year-old Cojuangco could only muster 15 votes.

Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman Edward Hayco sees this development as a bright spot for the country’s sporting scene.

“It is a milestone and turning point for Philippine sports,” Hayco said. “Ricky Vargas’ approach will be professional and corporate.”

Vargas’s running mate Bambol Tolentino of Phil Cycling also won the post as chair, beating Ting Ledesma of table tennis, 23-15.

Cojuangco was the longest serving POC chief, having assumed the position in 2004, winning four terms until a court ordered the Olympic body to allow Vargas and Tolentino to run for post.

Both Vargas and Tolentino were barred from running in the election last Nov. 25, 2016 on account of a POC ruling that requires candidates to be present in majority of the General Assembly meetings for the past two years.

The POC commission of elections composed of Frank Elizalde, Alberto Agra and Bro. Bernie Oca declared Vargas as president yesterday. He will serve the remaining term of Cojuangco, which is until 2020.

Cebu City Sports Center Manager Ricky Ballesteros, also a noted organizer of the Milo Marathon and Milo Little Olympics, said it is the right time for change in the POC.

“At least there is already the much-needed change since there were a lot of questions under Peping’s administration,” Ballesteros said.

He hopes, though, that the new administration will be able to deliver.

“I just hope that they will mainly focus on the development of our athletes by giving them the much-needed support and give them the much-needed exposure to international tournaments so that they can be more competitive. We just hope that this will be the mindset of our new POC president,”

Ballesteros added. “Let’s just give [Vargas] time since he’s just about to start his term. Let us all support him all the way.”

All out for athletes

Although optimistic of the new administration, Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) Executive Director Ramil Abing also hopes that this development will benefit the country’s athletes.

“Personally I hope that this will give a positive change that will benefit our athletes. I really hope that this change in the POC administration is focused on the welfare of our national athletes [so we can] fulfill that dream of winning the first Olympic gold medal,” said Abing, who is also a lawyer.

According to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner for the Visayas Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez, the new POC president will go all out for the athletes.

“For sure he (Vargas) will focus on the program for the development of sports and the triumph of our athletes especially the elite athletes,” Fernandez told Cebu Daily News. “Their initial plan is to talk and gather all of the NSA leaders and our national athletes to show to them that POC will support them all the way and start planning for the future. After that they will make an audit on POC’s spending and budget to see if there are any anomalies.

But their main focus right now is to make [sure] our athletes deliver the goods for our country.”

Vargas will also focus on the country’s campaign in the August Asian Games and the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games next year.

Fernandez has been one of the more vocal critics of Cojuangco, criticizing the latter for mismanaging the POC that resulted dismal performances in the Southeast Asian Games. In last year’s meet in Malaysia, the Philippines won only 23 gold medals and finished sixth place.