FORMER national fencer Rene Gacuma has been elected as the new president of the Philippine Fencing Association (PFA), ending the reign of actorturnedpolitician Richard Gomez to a sport that has given the country honor in different international events.

Gacuma will take over a sport that is on the rise on local soil with various clubs opening in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Fencing has recently delivered medals for the Philippines with the success of elite fencers like Samantha Catantan in foil and Noelito Jose in epee.

A member of the national team that competed during the country’s first participation in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games back in 1987 in Indonesia, the 62yearold Gacuma was elected last Friday night.

Also elected were lawyer Michael Abundo as chairman, Jean Gonzales as vice president and Leah Gonzales, who remained as secretary general. Gomez and Carlos Dayrit were elected as board members.

Gomez was first elected as PFA head in 2016 and was reelected in 2021.

The election results and the new set of officers of the PFA have already been forwarded to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

Carl Sambrano of the skateboard association served as observer during the proceedings.

Prior to his election as president, Gacuma served as auditor in the 1990s under the leadership of Celso Dayrit, who was also a former POC president.

Gacuma’s first official event as the new president of the PFA is the Dr. Celso Dayrit Memorial Fencing

Championships on November 1819 at the Ayala Malls by the Bay in Macapagal, Pasay City.

The said event serves as the ninth and final ranking leg in the cadet and juniors competition, as well as the under12 meet in all three weapons for men’s and women’s categories.