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PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose
“Peping” Cojuango is proposing an immediate straw vote.
In a
faxed statement, Cojuangco said his proposal intends “to
arrest the growing misimpressions created by a
protracted campaign period.”
“Historically, the POC has conducted straw votes, the
results of which have been considered the actual outcome
of regular elections,” Cojuangco said.
 “The
POC has only 40 regular members and years of working
together give us the foundation to make appropriate
choices ahead of the actual election period,” he added.
“It is
my firm belief that my fellow sports leaders will see
the virtue of a straw vote because, after all, everyone
in the POC is more concerned with the state of
Philippine sports than in an exercise that, while
essential, also threatens our valued unity and
solidarity.”
Cojuangco said he is concerned about media stories that
carried impressions that the POC elections might turn
out to be an ugly one.
“I,
therefore, call on my colleagues in the POC to exercise
caution in making public pronouncements as this can lead
observers to believe that the camaraderie and
brotherhood known to govern the circle of sports leaders
have been compromised,” said Cojuangco.
A straw
vote, Cojuangco said, will “best serve the integrity of
the POC and prevent the unnecessary and unwelcome
polarization of the organization.”
Cojuangco will vie for another four-year term. Shooting
president Art Macapagal will also seek the presidential
position in the elections set on November 28. |
