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By Krista Angela M. Montealegre, Reporter
THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ruled on
Tuesday to maintain the status quo in the swimming community, which
retained Mark Joseph as head of Philippine Amateur Swimming
Association (PASA).
The ruling preserved Joseph’s presidency,
however, a three-month reprieve was put into effect, after which the
POC would take up the issue of his legitimacy.
Present during the POC Execom meeting were
President Jose Cojuangco, Secretary-General Steve Hontiveros, first
vice president Rep. Monico Puentevella, director Harry Angping,
Arbitration Committee President Manny Lopez, International Olympic
Committee President Frank Elizalde, and Joseph.
“It’s the right decision. The ruling was the
least political and least disturbed,” said Joseph, who was
appointed as temporary president of PASA by POC Arbitration
Committee chairman Robert Aventajado in 2005.
Joseph claimed that Save PASA, a group of
swimmers, parents and coaches questioning the legitimacy of his
presidency, should not have brought to the papers the internal
problems of the organization.
But Save PASA asserted that Joseph managed to
evade the issue of his violation because of the POC ruling.
The group was not given an invitation but its
members, led by spokesperson Jane Ong, went to the meeting to
personally hand-carry their position paper to the POC.
“The matter of his legitimacy remains
unanswered,” Ong said. “We essentially assert our position that
the POC must implement its 2005 ruling which Mr. Joseph conveniently
or deliberately shelved since he was installed on a temporary
basis.”
Ong said they respect the ruling, which was held
in abeyance of the Olympics.
“We believe that the POC has seen the merit of
the issues we brought forward and that’s why they decided to
resolve this PASA issue right after the Olympics,” Ong said.
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