Philippine Sports News and Updates

Partylist Rep. Clarissa Coscolluela on Thursday appealed to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. to respect the wishes of the majority in the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP).

Coscolluela made the appeal after presiding over EAP’s special meeting and election at the Milky Way Restaurant in Makati City.

A total of 22 out of the 40 EAP members, including 13 proxy votes, joined Thursday’s election with Coscolluela elected unanimously by the seven-man board of trustees to take the presidential post then held by Cojuangco.

“What I’m hoping now is for Cojuangco to listen to the voice of the members," said Coscolluela. “This is not about one person against another but what the greater majority want. Should we not listen to the members who after all are the greatest stakeholder in this sport?"

The general membership first voted for the holding of the election after it was determined that the body has gotten the needed simple majority from the total EAP members.

The body elected seven members of the board. Joining Coscolluela were Olympian Ma. Antoinette “Toni" Leviste, Milagros “Mitos" Belofsky, Juan Ramon Lanza, Toti De Leon, Jose Ma. Montilla and Eric Tensuan.

The board then elected amongst themselves the new set of officers with Coscolluela elected as president, Lanza as vice president, Belofstky as secretary-general and De Leon as corporate secretary and treasurer.

Cojuangco had earlier said that no election will happen because the term of office was amended in the EAP By Laws from the one annual term to a three year term.

The POC executive board has also declared the said election illegal and didn't send a representative earlier requested by Coscolluela.

She admits that the POC recognition and even from the international federation will take quite some time but the new set of officers are willing to wait and are confident they will achieve their goal.

“We have done everything correctly based on our By-Laws. I also appeal to the POC, which is composed of several persons, for sense of fairness. The members and the decision makers should treat this issue prudently and look beyond personalities involved in the association. They should really act to promote the values of the Olympic movement," said Coscolluela.

Coscolluela's said they will write the international federation and the POC of what had happened and while waiting for their positive replay, the leadership will focus on the development of equestrian in the country by holding clinics and tournaments which will be open to all equestrian members.

"Now the election is over, we proceed to work. During this conflict, there were lines drawn but now that we have held the election, this line no longer exist because there is only one membership to speak of. We will serve all the members in all our programs regardless of where they stand before the election," ended Coscolluela.

• GMANews.TV
• Philippine Sports Central