Ricky Vargas sacks Peping Cojuangco, allies from POC

Just six months away from the Southeast Asian Games in New Clark City, Philippine Olympic Committee President Ricky Vargas cleaned house, seeking unity among its members heading into the regional event.

“Hindi ba pwedeng magtulungan at magka-isa muna tayo para sa SEA Games para hindi mapahiya yung bansa?” asked Vargas.

With this, Vargas has removed Robert Bachmann (squash) as chairman of the membership committee; Peping Cojuangco (equestrian) as chairman of the constitutional amendments committee, Monsour Del Rosario (taekwondo) and Charlie Ho from the SEA Games committee; and Joey Romasanta as chef de mission to the 2020 Olympics.

Vargas alleged that some stakeholders of the organization were questioning the incorporation of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC).

“The individuals I mentioned have lost my trust and confidence,” said Vargas, who took over from Cojuangco last May 2018.

Vargas nominated POC Chairman Bambol Tolentino for the post, while Vargas himself will chair the constitutional amendments committee.

Besides this, Vargas is proposing that after the SEA Games, the POC will hold an election for all elective positions.

“Yes, I suggest we no longer wait for the Olympics as was the tradition and have elections instead this coming January,” he declared.

“But I will campaign hard for deserving candidates who will fight for reforms and good governance in POC.”