Vargas voted swim chief; Buhain is secretary general

By Peter Atencio

RETIRED government employee and longtime swimming supporter Michael Vargas would have chosen to stay in the background, away from the limelight, quietly supporting th e swimming activities of former Olympian and Batangas Rep. Eric Buhain and his group.

But this time, the 43-year-old Vargas took a new direction and accepted the lead role of Philippine Swimming, Inc. president.

“Me and Cong. Eric (Buhain) have always been working together. I have been an unnamed supporter of swimming for a long time. That’s because, my support was to Cong. Eric and his activities. ‘Yun na nga, iyung mga regionals,” said Vargas.

A recently retired government service officer at the Bureau of Customs, Vargas garnered 10 votes from the 11 board of trustees following a series of elections held under the supervision of a Philippine Olympic Committee-designated electoral committee on Thursday.

Buhain, who was tipped to be the next PSI chief, decided to take another path, though, as secretary general dur-