Ex-squash chief to file complaint vs PSC commissioners

Former Philippine Squash Academy (PSA) president Robert Bachmann is set to file a formal complaint against Philippine Sports commissioners (PSC) Matthew “Fritz” Gaston and Edward Hayco for delaying the requests of his federation.

In a telephone conversation with DAILY TRIBUNE on Tuesday, Bachmann said he is now in the process of collating all the documents that will support the administrative case that he will file against Gaston and Hayco before the Office of the President.

Gaston and Bachmann’s younger brother — PSC chairman Richard “Dickie” Bachmann — are not seeing eye to eye.

In fact, Gaston wrote a letter to Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last year to report the alleged “questionable financial decisions” made by the PSC chief.

The Office of the President, however, just simply brushed it off and still retained the services of the PSC chairman.

Bachmann suspects that the decision of Gaston and Hayco to delay their requests has something to do with their dispute with his brother. With that, he decided to step down as squash president so that the programs of his federation and athletes will not be hampered.

“My complaint is all ready, my lawyers have drafted the complaint, it’s ready, I’m just collating all the supporting documents that will be attached to the complaint,” Bachmann said, adding that they badly need government support since they are shooting for slots in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

“Our requests are for the benefit of our athletes and the sport of squash, especially now that we are already an Olympic sport.”

Gaston and Hayco have been using the Commission on Audit (CoA) Circular 2007-01, or the revised guidelines in the release of government funds to non-government organizations, in scrutinizing the PSA requests.

But no less than CoA state auditor Jeorge Romano Lozano told Bachmann that there’s no reason for the delay since the circular isn’t heavily being enforced in the PSC.

“The application of CoA Circular is very selective. Why is it okay with other NSA (national sports association) leaders, but not with Bachmann? So, what is this? It should apply to all,” Bachmann said.

“That’s the problem. If you don’t have NSA experience, you should not be a commissioner.”

Bachmann added that he’s wondering why Gaston keeps on interfering despite the fact that squash isn’t part of his oversight.

“The thing here is: I’m not even under commissioner Gaston. I’m under (Commissioner) Bong Coo and he’s just interfering,” Bachmann said, adding that other NSA leaders are also not happy over Gaston’s performance in the PSC. IVAN SUING

“What I know is that there are several NSAs that are not happy with commissioner Fritz Gaston,” he said. “I won’t mention the NSAs anymore, but there’s quite a number.”