POC: TRO can’t stop billiards polls

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the threat of a temporary restraining order, the elections in the Billiards and Snookers Congress of the Philippines will push through, as ordered by the Philippine Olympic Committee.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer source said incumbent BSCP president Ernesto Fajardo, who will be challenged by board member Arturo Ilagan, has been trying to secure a TRO from Judge Oscar Pimentel of the Makati Regional Trial Court to stop the elections.

But POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta said Monday that the executive council would remain firm on its directive mandating the BSCP to hold its elections on Tuesday at Chateau Verde Condominium, Valle Verde I, Pasig City.

“Even if they secure a TRO, it won’t stop the POC from implementing the scheduled election of BSCP officials,” said Romasanta.

Fajardo’s group is seeking to conduct the elections next month so it could verify the list of voters. It said the list is flawed and loaded with personalities allied with Ilagan and board member Aristeo “Putch” Puyat.

The POC has approved only nine board members, which include Efren “Bata” Reyes, former BSCP president Joaquin Perez de Tagle, journalist Willie Caballes and Puyat, who are all supporters of Ilagan.

The POC executive board ordered the BSCP elections to push through after the World Pool-Billiards Association, the world governing body for the sport, set the deadline for the submission of BSCP players on April 5.

Failure to submit the roster of players and a new set of officials will force the federation to ban the BSCP from vying in all WPBA-sanctioned events.

The BSCP constitution calls for a federation election within the month.

The Inquirer tried but failed to reach Fajardo for comment.

By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer