By Edwin Rollon

A SEPARATE group associated with Amelita ?Ming? Ramos defied the Philippine Olympic Committee by holding an election recently, with the former first lady receiving a fresh, four-year term to lead the Philippine Badminton Association.

Eighteen out of 29 regular members trooped at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Center and voted Mrs. Ramos in the electoral process attended by newly appointed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping and commissioner Eric Loretizo, but without a representative from the POC, putting their legitimacy under close scrutiny.

Under a POC resolution approved in last year?s General Assembly, a representative from the POC is vital to make the electoral process legal. Go Teng Kok, special assistant to POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., witnessed the proceedings, but in a personal capacity.

?The POC never asked me to represent the Olympic body. I?m here as a guest only. I was personally invited by Mrs. Ramos. I remember that Mrs. Ramos also accepted my invitation to be the special guest for the Asian Athletics Championships,? said Go.