Former speaker and Taguig Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano lauded the re-election of Tagaytay City Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee as he aired the optimism that this development will guarantee better deal for Filipino athletes.
Cayetano, who chaired the Phlippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHILGOC), congratulated the POC for giving Tolentino a fresh mandate that would ”usher in a new era of sports centered on the welfare of the Filipino athletes.”
"His reelection signifies the vote of confidence of the leaders of the national sport associations to a more progressive and responsive leader," Cayetano said after Tolentino, former chairman of the House Committee on Accounts, was elected for another term as POC president on November 27.
Cayetano commended Tolentino for his effective and inspiring brand of leadership which contributed to the resounding success of the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
He said Tolentino played a crucial role in the country's effort to regain the overall championship of the Philippines in the biennial sporting event.
"We hope that the POC leadership will continue to inspire and provide our athletes with the support they need during competitions," he said.
Cayetano said after Friday’s election, the POC leadership needs to buckle down to work towards the collective goal of improving the Philippines's overall sports performance in future competitions.
He expressed optimism that under Tolentino’s leadership, the Philippines will sustain the “legacy of winning” it had regained from the previous SEA Games.
“I am confident that the power of collaboration and our strength as Filipino people, which lies in fighting as one and winning as one and which we rediscovered during the SEA Games, will sustain its momentum,” Cayetano said.
“I also look forward to seeing the POC step up its programs and remain focused and committed to our shared vision, which is to make sports a shining inspiration for the youth and a driving force for unity in our nation,” he added.