‘Return P3.2-million fund’

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is looking to recover the P3.2-milion financial assistance it extended to the Philippine Karatedo Federation-National Sports Association (PKF-NSA) for the national team’s training in Germany last year.

Sports commissioner Ramon Fernandez said they have already sent a demand letter to PKF-NSA president Joey Romasanta, demanding to return the fund that was allegedly mismanaged by former PKF-NSA secretary-general Raymund Lee Reyes.

Reyes, who took a leave of absence at the night of the controversy, was already issued a subpoena by the City Prosecutor of Manila based on the criminal charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last month.

Prosecutor Eward Togonon issued the subpoena requiring Reyes to show up for the preliminary investigation set on June 19 and 26.

Also being invited are the karatekas, led by team captain Eugene Stoner Dagohoy and OJ Delos Santos.

Fernandez said a swift resolution of the case should inspire the athletes to come out in the open and file complaints against other erring coaches and team officials.

“I hope other athletes would come out in the open,” said Fernandez, who made no secret that he is pushing for the creation of a new karate body that will be led by former national team member Richard Lim.

“The Office of the President and the Philippine Sports Commissioner (PSC) will be behind them and will protect them,” Fernandez said.

Aside from the criminal charges, the government also stopped its funding of PKF-NSA activities.

The federation was already barred from using its office and training facilities at the Philsports compound while financial assistance was stopped upon instruction of the Commission on Audit.

Instead, financial assistance is to be directed to the athletes so that their preparation for the 18th Asian Games will not be hampered.

In a previous statement, Romasanta welcomed the investigation.

Romasanta, the incumbent first vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee and chief of the Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc., said an investigation is a perfect avenue for Lee to explain his side.

Dagohoy and other karatekas complained that they received only $400 from Reyes instead of the $1,800 allotted to them by the PSC during their training camp in Germany.

“I’m looking forward to the investigation,” said Romasanta. “I’m one with the PSC in finding a resolution to this problem for the sake of the athletes.”