SPORTS NEWS | Ricky Vargas ended 13 years tenure of Peping Cojuangco and become New POC President

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Metro Manila Philippines - Something cooking in the Philippines Sports this year as the new President of Philippines Olympic Commission was hailed last Friday, February 23 at the Wack Wack Country Club in Mandaluyong.

Vargas won by 24 votes from national sports associations officials, while the present president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. only got 15 votes. 

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Ricky Vargas ended the 13 year tenure and was voted as the new POC President in a court ordered poll on Friday. Together with Vargas is the Philcycling president and Tagaytay City Representative Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino won the position of chairman over Table Tennis President Ting Ledesma with a final tally of 23-15.

Last 2016, Tolentino & Vargas were disqualified from running to POC higher post. As a result, Cojuangco continued to reign during the 2016 elections. 

Vargas was overwhelmed and thanked everyone who supported him together with the newly elected chairman Tolentino. 

"This is an overwhelming experience and I thank everyone who supported my candidacy and that of Bambol Tolentino," Vargas said after the results came out. 

Vargas & Tolentino leadership will focus on the athletes and its time to move on from the past regime. And look for a better change on the coming months or years in the Philippine Sports. 

"We're here for the athletes, we're here to move on and we're here also to unite. That's what we're going to work on."

Vargas & Tolentino also mentioned that they have a lot of plans for the POC and will have talks also with Philippine Sports Commision (PSC) presidents William Ramirez & Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano to talk more on the future plans for our Philippine Sports. 

"There are many things that we will be discussing. We will make changes for the athletes. This is for Philippine sports to succeed and be one again," Vargas said. 

Reconciliation is also a big part of the changes that will happen in the scene of Philippine Sports.  

"As the chairman said reconciliation is very important at this point - working with PSC, reconciling with all the hurts that this process has gone through." Vargas said. 

He and businessman Manny V. Pangilinan were at the forefront of the creation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in 2007. Another good news, SBP emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan has pledged Php 20 Million to the POC as a budget for a newly start run of POC with the leadership of Vargas and Tolentino. 


ITS TIME FOR CHANGE

Vargas has a good feeling that they will give and support to make change happen. 

“I really feel very good about this. I thank the NSAs (National Sports Associations). They want change, I hope to live up to their expectations and we will make change happen,” Vargas said.

The changes happening in the Philippine Sports is all out for the athletes, it will give a positive change that will benefit the athletes, we do hope that POC will focus on the welfare of the national athletes, and to fulfill the dream of winning the first Olympic Gold Medal. 

The newly appointed President also admitted that he was not familiar with the voting because he has no experience being in Politics or voting process. 

“Hindi ako sanay sa elections. I didn’t know what to feel. I knew that we have the numbers but I couldn’t believe that because I don’t know what politics is all about. But it’s all done now and that’s good,” Vargas said in an interview. 

Vargas also shared that he is looking forward for the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games to be held in the Philippines. This means working with DFA Sec Alan Peter Cayetano and was appointed by President Duterte to oversee the organization of the games. 

“There’s a lot of things to do. I’m excited to work with (DFA) Sec. (Alan Peter) Cayetano for the Southeast Asian Games. I’d like to work with him,” said Vargas. 

So this is a new and better days for the Sports fans and especially to the Philippine Sports Community. 


SOURCE: CNN Philippines, TV5 ESPN