Equestrian Association of the Philippines chief Jose ‘‘Peping’’ Cojuangco said on Thursday that the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) representative who will be coming to Manila to supervise its elections must be given the authority to come up with the list of voters to avoid controversy.

But his chief rival, party-list Rep. Carissa Coscolluela, disagrees and said the FEI should have nothing to do with the election except to observe and make sure that it is fair and honest.

As for the list, Coscolluela, who has her own apart from Cojuangco’s, said the local association’s constitution and bylaws should determine the membership and the list of voters and not the FEI.

Cojuangco said POC lawyers are now trying to reconcile both lists to the satisfaction of all concerned as well as the rules that will govern the election which was set the other day but was postponed when the FEI representative did not arrive.

“We just cannot rush into holding an election because if we do, the outcome might be put in question again,” said Cojuangco.

FEI president Princess Haya has given the green light to dispatch Christopher Hodson of New Zealand, the FEI second vice president, to observe the soon-to-be-held elections of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines. Coscolluela said the FEI should not have a say in the formation of the voters’ list.

“The EAP is an entity incorporated under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and so our elections should be conducted in accordance with the provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws,” said Coscolluela.

“Those instruments determine our membership and the way we conduct our business. And if we faithfully adhere to those documents, there will be no question as to the voters’ list,” she said.

“The FEI representative,” noted Coscolluela, “is just an observer for the purpose of issuing FEI recognition and he’s not here to run the elections.”

“We must run the elections ourselves and we are all mature to do that.”