Ricky Vargas

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Vargas' election as POC President in February 2018. POC elections feb 2018 winners b.jpg
Vargas' election as POC President in February 2018.

Ricky Vargas first attempted to run for the position of Philippine Olympic Committee President in 2016, challenging then incumbent president, Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. However his candidacy, along with Abraham Tolentino's who was vying for chairmanship, for the November 2016 elections were rejected after the sport's body commission on election which was led by Francisco Elizalde ruled them ineligible for being not being "active member". Vargas, who only attended in one general assembly of the POC, argued that being an active member does not equate to physical presence in the POC's general assembly. He attempted to have the November 2016 elections postponed by the Pasig Regional Trial Court to allow for dialogue between his camp and Cojuangco's but failed. Cojuangco secured a fourth term unopposed in the 2016 elections.

The Pasig court later ruled the results of the 2016 elections for the post of president and chairman null and void, said that the commission on elections cannot restrict or qualify the eligibility criteria of being an "active member", and ordered and election with Vargas and Tolentino as candidates to be held on February 23, 2018. An extraordinary meeting was held in February where the general assembly agreed to hold elections and a commissions on elections was formed which was also led by Francisco Elizalde. Given the latter fact, Vargas and Tolentino anticipated that they will be disqualified again though Elizalde allowed the two to run to avoid being cited in contempt by court despite the election head's view that the two are ineligible.

Vargas secured a 24–15 victory over Cojuangco for the post of POC President ending the latter's long tenure. [7] Vargas officially began his term [8] on March 5, 2018, when he took his oath before Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in the Malacañang Palace. [9] The first board meeting under Vargas' tenure was held the day after where his predecessor turned over the POC flag to Vargas. [10]

Tenure

Vargas had to work with a POC board, which is a holdover from his predecessor's administration and had to face issues such as continued unsettled leadership disputes within numerous member National Sports Associations, status of some the POC's members, and reform of the POC By-Laws and Constitution. He also became one of the key figures behind the organization of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. [11]

Almost a year after Vargas' election, Vargas reportedly was not content on the way the POC is being run and was aiming to make the POC as a "more transparent, more honest, and less political organization". He also credits his deputy, Abraham Tolentino for his role in his administration. Vargas has expressed preference to have Tolentino's presence in board meetings noting his experience as a politician. [11]

Vargas' organization of the games was put into question particularly the incorporation of the Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation as the organizing body of the regional games without prior approval of the POC board. The majority of its members believed the foundation to be a different entity than the ad hoc committee agreed upon by the board in 2017. [12] [13] It was also alleged that there was an overpricing of supplies provided by Asics, the official outfitter for athletes representing the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games. [13]

There were allegations that there was an effort to remove Vargas from his position as president. His predecessor, Peping Cojuangco is often associated with such but has said he is not interested of the presidency and has expressed support for his administration. [14]

The International Olympic Committee has urged Vargas to meet with the board to address the issues raised against him. Vargas convened a meeting with the board on June 18, 2019 [15] where he filed his resignation as president. [13] He was succeeded by First Vice President Joey Romasanta. [12]

Personal life

He is the grandson of Jorge B. Vargas, who served as president of POC's predecessor, Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ "Victorico P. Vargas" (PDF). Asian Boxing Confederation. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Vargas: from corporate job to running Philippine sports". ABS-CBN News. February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  3. ↑ "PLDT, Smart ink seven-year US$300M deal with Amdocs" (Press release). PLDT. January 24, 2018. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Vargas, Victorico". Reuters. Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  5. ↑ Leongson, Randolph B. (December 17, 2017). "Ricky Vargas is new PBA chairman". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  6. ↑ "SBP exec to meet Lakers officials, Clarkson's dad: report". ABS-CBN News. September 1, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ Reyes, Marc Anthony (February 23, 2018). "Ricky Vargas beats Peping Cojuangco for POC presidency". Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved February 23, 2018.
  8. ↑ Pedralvez, Bong (March 2, 2018). "Oath-taking rites for POC leaders set". Malaya Business Insights. Retrieved March 8, 2018. The source said Vargas preferred a separate occasion for the oath-taking "before he officially assumes his duties as the new POC president."
  9. ↑ Lopez, Virgil (March 5, 2018). "New POC execs Vargas, Tolentino take oath before Duterte". GMA News. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Ramos, Gerry (March 6, 2018). "Ricky Vargas reaches out to predecessor Peping Cojuangco as POC leadership officially turned over". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Vargas wants 'transparent, less political' POC". Philippine News Agency. April 9, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Go, Beatrice (June 18, 2019). "New POC president looks to regroup as SEA Games hosting nears". Rappler. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 Panti, Llanesca (June 18, 2019). "Ricky Vargas quits as Philippine Olympic Committee president". GMA News. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Peping not interested in PH Olympic Committee presidency". Manila Standard. June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  15. ↑ "IOC calls on Ricky Vargas to clarify issues with POC board". Tiebreaker Times. June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  16. ↑ Ramos, Gerry (October 28, 2016). "Ricky Vargas says 'flawed' decision disqualifying him from POC elections must be reversed". Sports Interactive Network Philippines . Retrieved February 27, 2018.
Ricky Vargas
PSC Hall of Fame awarding 2018 Vargas (cropped).jpg
Vargas in 2018
15th and 26th Chairman of the PBA Board of Governors
Assumed office
December 17, 2017
Presidents of the Philippine Olympic Committee
PAAF Era
POC Era
(*) provisional
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