Edwin Gastanes

Edwin B. Gastanes is a Filipino lawyer and sports administrator who the former general secretary of the Philippine Olympic Committee from 2019 to 2023. He was also the secretary genera of the Philippine Football Federation from 2013 to 2023.

Edwin B. Gastanes
Gastanes in 2023
Born	1958 (age 65–66) Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Occupation(s)	Lawyer, General Secretary of the Philippine Football Federation and the Secretary General of the Philippine Olympic Committee

Education

He attended the Manuel L. Quezon University where he took his pre-law degree in 1981. He obtained his bachelors of laws degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1986 and passed the bar examination the following year.^[1]

Sports administration

Philippine Football Federation

Gastanes was appointed as general secretary of the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) on February 15, 2013.^[2] He was tapped by PFF President Mariano Araneta to help manage the sports body.^[3] He resigned on September 30, 2023.^[4]

Philippine Olympic Committee

Gastanes was named secretary general of the Philippine Olympic Committee on August 8, 2019.^[5] His resignation from the PFF in 2023, automatically made him ineligible to continue serving his position as POC general secretary. He was succeeded by Wharton Chan.^[6]

AFC and AFF

He was initially appointed as the Member of the AFC Legal Committee for the term 2013 until 2015.^{[7][failed verification]} Then he was appointed as the chairman of the ad-hoc AFC Electoral Committee during the 26th AFC Congress held in Manama, Bahrain.^[8] He went on become the Deputy Chairperson of the AFC Legal Committee for the term 2015 to 2019, and currently he sits as Member of the AFC Legal Committee for the term 2019 until 2023.^{[9][failed verification]} He also served as Alternate Council Member of the AESAN Football Federation for the term 2019 to 2023.^{[citation needed]}

Legal career

He worked for the law firm Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices (PECABAR).^[1]

Political career

Hailing from the province of Palawan, considered as the last frontier of the Philippines, Gastanes made two unsuccessful attempts to get elected as a representative of the province's 2nd district in the House of Representatives, in 2004 and 2022. His platform includes a focus on agriculture and strict regulations of the local mining industry.^[10][11]

References

1. "Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices". Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices. Archived from the original on December 26, 2002. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
2. "Gastanes appointed Philippine General Secretary". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
3. Guerrero, Bob (October 25, 2013). "POC violates Olympic Charter in denying U23 Azkals SEAG stint – PFF Gen Sec". Yahoo! Philippines. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
4. Suing, Ivan (October 2, 2023). "PFF old hand Coco Torre appointed general secretary". Daily Tribune. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
5. "Atty. Edwin Gastanes Named POC Secretary General". Philippine Football Federation. August 13, 2019. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
6. "Wharton Chan tapped as new POC secretary-general". ABS-CBN News. October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
7. "Philippine Olympic Committee: ANOC". Association of National Olympic Committees. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
8. "Q&A: Edwin B. Gastanes, AFC Electoral Committee Chairman". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
9. "Legal Committee the-AFC.com". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
10. Ganancial, Rachel (February 9, 2022). "Gastanes offers self as option to southern Palawan". Palawan News. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
11. "PROFILE: Edwin Gastanes | Candidate for Member, House Of Representatives - 2022 elections". PHVote. Rappler. Retrieved December 31, 2022.