BSCP MEMBERS SUE FOR A ‘FAIR’ ELECTION

Nine members of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) directorate have filed a petition before the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) requesting the local Olympic movement to compel their association to hold an election to once and for all end the longstanding crisis hounding the sport.

In its letter to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the group calling themselves the “majority of bona fide BSCP members” also raised an objection to the act of BSCP chairman Yen Makabenta and president Ernesto Fajardo of including new names in the list of voting members and then calling for an election that would obviously favor the interest of the two.

“We hereby request your good office to require the officers and directors of the BSCP to hold its election of board members and officers in a fair and equitable manner so that only people of competence and integrity will be placed at the helm of this important NSA,” the letter states.

“We understand that the current officers, principally Chairman Makabenta and President Fajardo, have submitted to your office a request to conduct an election based on a list of 18 members that they submitted to your office but have refused to disclose to us. We object and question their request for election principally due to the inclusion of people who were appointed only upon the decision of Mr. Makabenta and Fajardo and some members close to them.

We regular members have not been informed of the appointment of these new members obviously done to perpetuate their hold and tenure in the association inspite of the fact that almost all the top players and stakeholders have shunned and rejected their leadership due to their abuse of power, maltreatment of players and use of the NSA to promote their personal business ventures. Mr. Makabenta owns Raya Sports, a company promoting billiards events which gets approval and sanctions from BSCP for its promotions.”

Those who signed the letter were Efren “Bata” Reyes, Aristeo “Putch” Puyat, Jonathan Sy, Joaquin Perez de Tagle, Arturo Ilagan, Mahar Mangahas, Willie Caballes, Jaime Chongco and Johanna Dee. They said they are among the 15 bona fide members of the BSCP registered with the POC. The other members, who voted in the last election were Makabenta, Fajardo, Sebastian Chua, Julius Nidea, Antonio Barranda and Romeo Tagonon.

On the other hand, in the list of members submitted by Makabenta and Fajardo, there includes the names of Edgar Acaba, Ricardo Ancaja, Emanuel Argonza, Amado Diokno, Marlon Manalo and Carlos Santos-Viola. “They are arbitrarily selected by Mr. Makabenta and Fajardo, and “most of them have not contributed anything at all to the promotion and development of billiards.”

“We request that in the interest of fariness and for the sake of unity that an election be held wherein only the 15 members duly recognized by the POC be allowed to vote as this is the only way that the current discord and problems in the BSCP can be corrected and resolved.”

The letter also cited the criminal case of libel Makabenta and Fajardo are facing on the account of the charges brought against them by former world champion Alex Pagulayan, who claimed that the two have maliciously damaged his reputation due to his refusal to join a television event Makabenta intended to produce.

“There are many other instances of the abuse and maltreatment of our top world-class players perpetrated by Makabenta and Fajardo which we can submit to you should you require. We can also cite cases of favoritism in the selection of our country representatives in tournaments abroad.”