MANILA -- Ricky Vargas, president of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines, has been disqualified from running as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The POC’s election committee has deemed Vargas “unqualified” for being inactive in POC assemblies.

POC election committee chair Frank Elizalde said Vargas only attended one general assembly meeting in the past two years.

"As per records of attendance, I regret to advise that they did not comply with the attendance in general assembly," Elizalde told sports website Spin.

Based on election requirement under Article 7 Section 11 of the POC constitution, those running for president should be "an active member of the POC general assembly for two consecutive years at the time of their election."

Also disqualified from running as POC chairman was Philcycling president Abraham Tolentino, who is part of Vargas’s ticket.

The camp of Vargas, however, vowed to challenge the disqualification.

“Mr. Vargas will definitely question his disqualification. He believes that he has all the qualifications to run for POC president and none of the disqualifications,” said Atty. Chito Salud, spokesperson of Vargas, in a statement. “The disqualification clearly disregards the principles of fair play and prejudices not just the rights of ABAP and Mr Vargas, but the interest and welfare of Philippine sports as well.”

“The lawyers are preparing the remedies available to Mr. Vargas and will determine whether it is pointless or futile to ask the election committee and the POC executive board for a reconsideration of the disqualification order.”

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