By Ivan Stewart Saldajeno
MANILA – Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino will remain the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as his “Working Team” ticket dominated the general elections at a restaurant in Parañaque City on Friday.
Tolentino, also the president of the cycling, earned the nod of 45 national sports association representatives, giving him another four-year term as POC president.
Tolentino beat outgoing auditor and former professional basketball star Chito Loyzaga of the baseball association by 30 votes.
Tolentino’s entire ticket won all the other seats.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio also stays as POC first vice president, running unopposed with 53 votes.
Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez, representing pentathlon, will also keep his post as second vice president after beating late replacement Carl Sambrano of skateboarding, 37-22.
Renowned sports doctor George Canlas of surfing is set to become the new POC treasurer, replacing gymnastics chief Cynthia Carrion-Norton.
Canlas also ran unopposed and got 54 votes.
Don Caringal of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation will replace Loyzaga as auditor, winning over Rod Roque, 47-12.
Lenlen Escollante of canoe kayak, Alvin Aguilar of wrestling, Ferdie Agustin of jiu-jitsu, Ali Sulit of judo and Leah Gonzales of fencing were all voted to the POC executive board.
Sixty-one NSA officials were supposed to vote on Friday, but the designated representative from the Philippine Rugby Football Union failed to cast a vote, making them the only complete abstention in the elections. (PNA)
