2019 SEA Games: POC chairman Tolentino to call for special elections

MANILA, Philippines – A day after the surprise resignation of POC president Ricky Vargas, chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino announced on Wednesday, June 19, that he intends to call a special election for the position of president vacated by Vargas. 

Tolentino plans to formally announce this during the scheduled extraordinary general assembly on Tuesday, June 25.

Under the POC Bylaws Article 7 section 6, a special election may be called by the chairman within 30 days from the date the vacancy arises if the named successors – first vice president and second vice president – are not qualified to succeed.

These two officers must possess the qualifications of a POC president. Among others, they must be an incumbent president of an Olympic Sport-NSA.

First vice president Jose Romasanta is currently the vice president of the volleyball association while second vice president Antonio Tamayo is president of soft tennis, which is not an Olympic sport. (TIMELINE: Will the POC feud affect PH’s SEA Games hosting?)

Romasanta was the president of the defunct Philippine Karate Federation, which was suspended by the World Karate Assocation due to the local officials’ alleged misuse of funds

Romasanta on the move

Romasanta, who succeeded Vargas, vowed to continue using his authority to speed up preparations of the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. (READ: New POC president looks to regroup as SEA Games hosting nears)

Romasanta has instructed former POC secretary-general Steve Hontiveros to call for an emergency SEA Games Federation Council meeting to brief the 10 other member countries on the latest development in the Philippines’ preparations.

The agenda would be to discuss how to move forward in organizing the SEA Games as the Philippines SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation Inc is not the same as the ad hoc committee approved by the POC board. (2019 SEA GAMES: Cayetano debunks claims of questionable deals)

The majority of the national Olympic committee board questioned PHISGOC Foundation Inc’s authority to run the regional biennial meet, including its creation of the SEA Games logo, SEA Games mascot and SEA Games hymn and motto.

There were also questions about the venues tapped by the PHISGOC Foundation as it decided to move some sports away from the main hub at the New Clark City in Tarlac, while the marketing campaign, transportation and volunteer programs are also being probed.

Romasanta will also meet with the NSAs on Tuesday’s general assembly to discuss issues with their respective technical handbooks for the 2019 SEA Games. – Rappler.com