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POC's Vargas wants PH to take top spot in SEA Games standings

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/02/18/ricky-vargas.jpg"/><figcaption>POC president Ricky Vargas file photo. Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA -- Philippine Olympic Commission (POC) president Ricky Vargas wants the Philippines to take the overall championship in the coming 2019 Southeast Asian Games.To do that, he said, the Philippines will need to win 120 gold medals in the biennial games to be hosted by the country this November.“I’d like to hear the Philippine national anthem played 120 times,” POC president Ricky Vargas said in a <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/seagames/news/2019/06/04/vargas-wants-120-gold-medals-phi-2019-sea-games-57425">ABS-CBN Sports</a> report.Vargas set the lofty goal even as he called for unity among POC officials.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/28/19/insulate-sports-from-politics-malacaang-tells-bickering-ph-olympic-officials">READ: ‘Insulate sports from politics’, Malacañang tells bickering PH Olympic officials</a></li></ul>Just last week, the POC leadership was rocked with controversy after Vargas recalled <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/05/27/19/vargas-makes-changes-to-poc-citing-loss-of-trust-and-confidence">several POC officials</a>, mostly aligned with former POC chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, from their positions. Later, his leadership got the backing from the Office of the President and even had Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez appointed as the SEA Games Chef de Mission.“We are working this out. With your help, this is achievable, this is doable,” Vargas said.“I share the call of (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez, the PSC commissioners, and most especially, our government, that we unify and win as one.”For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.

“I’d like to hear the Philippine national anthem played 120 times.”