Ricky Vargas unseats Peping Cojuangco at POC helm

Boxing chief Ricky Vargas was elected Friday as the new head of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), dethroning long-time president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco, Jr., according to Radyo dzBB's Manny Vargas.

Vargas, chief of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, bested Cojuangco in a 24-15 vote at the election held at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club in Mandaluyong City, ending the latter's 13-year reign.

Congratulations Chairman Tolentino and President Ricky Vargas!! #changeishere #poc #parasaatleta ???????? pic.twitter.com/luTwXIeE3p

— Al Panlilio (@APan9) February 23, 2018

Committee members also elected Bambol Tolentino, who chairs the Philipine Cycling Federation, as the new POC,chairman.

In the 23-15 vote, Tolentino beat Table Tennis Association of the Philippines chief Ting Ledesma for the post.

The election was ordered by RTC branch 155, who ruled that the POC's executive board abused its authority in barring Vargas and Tolentino from running in its 2016 elections.

The POC is a non-government body recognized by the  International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole authority to represent the Philippines in international sporting tournaments such as the Olympics, Asian Games and SEA games.

Cojuangco, who was at the POC's helm since he took over in 2004, has been blamed for what senators described as dismal performance of Philippine delegates in international sporting events.

In a 2016 inquiry, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV pointed out that the Philippines' rank in the Southeast Asian Games had taken a dip since Cojuangco took over the Committee.

The senator also accused Cojuangco of "manipulating and monopolizing" the sports sector. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News