MANILA -- Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas resigned as member of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Foundation board of trustees on April 2.
Vargas himself announced this development during the POC-PHISGOC-National Sports Associations (NSAs) alignment meeting, which was held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Taguig City government satellite office inside the SM Aura Premier Tower on Monday.
"I realized that I might be conflicted, so I resigned from one of the incorporators," Vargas said.
He explained that he represents the POC and its interest “and to be a member of the board of trustees of the PHISGOC Foundation would (get into) conflict with the reason I'm there."
Vargas, however, clarified that he will stay as PHISGOC co-chairman.
The PHISGOC Foundation was among the topics discussed during the alignment meeting.
"It's part of the rules of the [SEA] Games. Hindi ka pwedeng magkaroon ng games nang wala kang (You cannot have games without) juridical entity," PHISGOC chairman Alan Cayetano explained why the PHISGOC Foundation was created.
The Philippines will be hosting for the fourth time the 2019 SEA Games from November 30 to December 11.
The country won the overall championship of the biennial sports meet the last time it hosted in 2005. The SEA Games was also held in the Philippines in 1981 and 1991. (PNA)
