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SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN FOR ANGPING ON

POC not solid behind Peping call

By Julius Manicad

03/10/2009

A deep crack showed in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), whose president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco’s call to oust Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping yesterday met opposition from his own members who have launched a signature campaign in support of Angping.

Claiming Cojuangco’s sentiment does not reflect the position of the entire local Olympic movement, a group affiliated with losing POC presidential candidate Art Macapagal is now soliciting support from other POC members with triathlon chief Tom Carrasco doing most of the legwork.

A former POC secretary general, Carrasco is said to be eyeing 15 signatures to counter the 14 signatories that pledged support to Cojuangco’s all-out war against the government sports agency.

Angping has the support of President Arroyo, sister of Macapagal.

Apart from Cojuangco, other signatories in the POC resolution seeking Angping’s ouster are Monico Puentevella, Frank Elizalde, Manny Lopez, Julian Camacho, Mario Tanchangco, Sim Chi Tat, Steve Hontiveros, Corinna Mojica, Salvador Andrada, Leonora Brawner, Mark Joseph, Jeff Tamayo and Dave Carter.

So far, Carrasco has secured 10 signatures while still in close negotiation with three more national sports association (NSA) leaders previously associated with Cojuangco and athletics chief Go Teng Kok during the previous POC elections.

A POC insider revealed the manifesto is focused on fairness and accountability in the Olympic family while condemning the move made by the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association asking fund directly from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. without the approval of the PSC board of commissioners.

The group also threw full support behind Angping’s programs and policies, especially his attempt to “clean the house (of all NSAs).

Incidentally, Angping’s first targets were swimming and athletics, two medal-rich events presided by leaders holding sensitive positions in the Cojuangco administration.

“It’s not really a pro-Angping or pro-PSC campaign, but just an attempt to seek transparency, accountability and fairness in the POC,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“Unlike the execom, (POC executive committee), we fully agreed to his policies and programs. Remember: The sentiment of Peping, or the POC executive committee, is not the official stand of the POC general assembly.”

Carrasco admitted the veracity of the campaign, but refused to talk about its details. Former POC chairman Robert Aventajado and squash president Romeo Ribano, meanwhile, were mum on their move.

A former softball chief and erstwhile member of the powerful POC council, Angping stood as the chief campaigner when Macapagal lost the POC presidency to Cojuangco late last year, 19-21.