Instead of fighting back, the Philippine Sports Commission is extending its hand of peace.
PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann said they are willing to help the Philippine Olympic Committee in getting cleared of its unliquidated expenses incurred during the country’s participation in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998.
Bachmann said the PSC has no hand in the demand letter that the Commission on Audit released to the POC at the height of the 19th Asian Games last month.
He explained that the PSC has no control of CoA and all entities — either government or private — are mandated to abide by the accounting rules and regulations of the state auditing firm.
“The notice on unliquidated issued by the Commission on Audit is a standard procedure practiced by the Commission on matters that have been reported as a CoA finding repeatedly over the years. The timing and issuance of the letters of the POC by the CoA, therefore, are not within the purview of the POC. We have no control over that,” Bachmann said in a news briefing yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Looking at all the articles, listening at what he’s been saying, I kinda agree with POC in the sense that why are we being bothered? Why is funding being bothered by unliquidated accounts being inherited by NSAs (national sports associations) for events that happened 15, 20 or 25 years ago?”
Bachman said he was not aware of the CoA letter.
“Now here is the actual letter of CoA to the PSC. Didn’t pass by my office. I have no signature here, so again, PSC is not involved,” Bachmann said.
POC chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, however, doesn’t buy Bachmann’s explanation.
“It’s a total lie that the PSC doesn’t have knowledge on this,” Tolentino said in a message to Daily Tribune also on Tuesday.
“We have evidence that before 20 September, the PSC was already asking us to sign an undertaking that before the release of payment of tracksuit, parade uniform, shoes and luggage, we have to acknowledge the liquidation with the same content that CoA sent. We did not agree. We only signed when the letter was revised and payment was released.”
“Now, the content of the first letter of undertaking is the same content of the CoA letter. Who’s telling a lie?”
Tolentino was on the warpath when he revealed that the CoA had sent them a letter demanding for the immediate liquidation of the P10-million expenses incurred during the Asian Games 25 years ago.
The amount was traced back to the term of Cristy Ramos, the daughter of late President Fidel Ramos, as chief of the POC, which experienced financial issues with the PSC, then under Philip Ella Juico.
Ramos sought Malacañang’s help for the Bangkok Asian Games. The Palace, however, cascaded the request to the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, which eventually deducted P10 million from its monthly remittance to the PSC.
Tolentino questioned the timing of the letter, which he received a day before the opening of the Asian Games, saying that there was a “malicious intent” on the part of the PSC because it has control over CoA.
“While we were here on the first day (19 September) and waving the Philippine flag, they sent us the letter with an instruction to answer within five days upon receipt. Give me one valid reason for the Filipino people on the timing of the sending the letter. Why? To distract us? That’s malicious intent — bad faith,” Tolentino said, adding that the fund requested in 1998 was released only in 2016.
“We’re not working as a team here.”
Bachmann said he is offering his assistance so that the POC can rectify the matter.
In fact, he is willing to sit down with Tolentino and come up with a setup in which they can talk to each other directly.
“This (Tuesday) afternoon, I’m gonna meet with (deputy secretary general) Bones Floro of the POC to try to align and help with the unliquidated amounts of POC from Vietnam until 2022. Again, PSC is here to help with POC and I don’t understand what the actual issue is,” Bachmann said.
“All our engagements with participating athletes, medalists and non-medalists can hopefully attest to this. No wedge has been driven anywhere and no back has been stabbed.”
Bachmann also said they will reimburse the fund that the POC used in booking the flights of the athletes, coaches and officials to Hangzhou.
“Cathay Pacific offered a maximum rate of $1200 per passenger. Upon the completion of the list, the price will be lowered. This arrangement was unacceptable in contracting with the government. We need a fixed rate right from the start,” Bachmann said.
“Eventually, Cathay Pacific agreed to rates ranging from $500 to $700 dollars per passenger. In a collaborative spirit, the POC advanced the payment for tickets, a gesture we appreciated at that time.”
“All advances of POC will be reimbursed by the PSC based on PSC policies.”
