Nagsumite ng ‘motion for reconsideration’ si boxing president Ricky Vargas hingil sa naging desisyon na idiskuwalipika siya nang binuong Comelec ng Philippine Olympic Committee para tumakbong pangulo sa POC sa Nobyembre 25.

Sa opisyal na sulat ni Vargas na may petsang Oktubre 28, sinabi ni Vargas na ang desisyon laban sa kanya “is flawed and defective for lack of due process, both procedural and substantive. It must be reversed.”

“First, the decision was made without any objection or opposition from a known third party. Second, it was hastily rendered without the basic requisite hearing having been accorded to Mr Vargas,” ayon sa sulat.

“Third, while the disqualification was made public via a verbal declaration, no written resolution has to date been issued by the election committee specifying and explaining the grounds for the exclusion. Fourth, without such written ineligibility order, the decision is deemed to be based on a myopic and unsubstantiated interpretation of the words “active member” in the POC general assembly,” aniya.

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“Active member” is at best a nebulous eligibility requirement that has been left undefined by a clearcut set of parameters and criteria in the POC by-laws,” pahayag ni Vargas.

Kinuwestiyon din ni Vargas ang paglilimita ng tatlo kataong komite hinggil sa kahulugan ng salitang “active’”

“The election committee, however, chose to limit the meaning and measure of a member’s activity solely to attendance and physical presence at the general assembly. This is deficient. Active membership is more than attendance. Physical presence at the general assembly does not equate to active participation.”

“The arbitrary and whimsical interpretation applied by the election committee unjustly prejudices the substantive rights of the ABAP and Ricky Vargas. It is too simplistic. In the end, it is our athletes and NSAs who shall invariably be deprived of their right to a free and fair democratic exercise in hopes of reinvigorating Philippine sports,” aniya.

Matatandaang knockout ng sinapit ni Vargas at kaalyadong si Tagaytay City Congressman Bambol Tolentino sa POC Comelec nang ihayag ang diskuwalipikasyon ni Vargas.

Binigyan ng hanggang Nobyembre 2 si Vargas para umapela sa naturang desisyon. Ngunit, sakaling hind imaging pabor ang sagot ng Comelec, kabilang sa plano ng kampo ni Vargas ang idulog ang isyu sa Supreme Court.

Samantala, nagbigay din ng kahandaan si dating athletics president Go Teng Kok para pagdebatihan ang aniya’y gawa-gawa lamang ang qualification requirement ni Cojuangco, (Angie Oredo)