In response to the recent articles published involving Mr. Kamrul Tarafder’s and Mr. Simon Tarafder’s disputes with ASA Philippines Board, the counsel of Kamrul, the former president and chief executive officer of the microfinance foundation issued a letter of rebuttal.
The following is the final installment:
Death threats
The death threats targeted both Mr. Kamrul, Mr. Simon, and their families. ASA’s claim that the threats were limited to Mr. Simon is patently false. Independent threat assessments, including those from ASA’s own security consultant, confirmed that Mr. Kamrul was under serious threat.
This finding is well documented, but of course now ASA is negating this statement and claiming Mr. Kamrul was never under threat.
The reluctance on the part of Mr. Kamrul to participate with ASA Board’s action was justified considering his security advisors, composed of former generals of the PNP advised him of the possibility that the death threats were perpetrated by actors within ASA Board.
Mr. Kamrul’s request for a security budget followed professional advice from former PNP generals.
The purchase of a secondhand ballistic vehicle was a reasonable and necessary response to credible threats. ASA’s attempt to portray the purchase as extravagant is misleading and fails to acknowledge the urgency of the situation.
The security firms hired by ASA to investigate the death threats were acting not for the protection of Mr. Kamrul and his family but on the contrary against him.
In fact, evidence suggests that the sources of the libelous news reports branding Mr. Kamrul and his family as drug traffickers, terrorists, and money launderers, were the security firms hired and retained by ASA Board, and by extension, the ASA Board itself.
The investigations are on-going and in time, no matter how long, the truth shall come out.
Kamrul’s removal
When Kamrul went into the meeting, the Board Resolution declaring his removal was already printed and in the hands of Mr. Dee, indicating that that special meeting was premeditated, and it was intended to end one way: with Kamrul’s humiliating removal. It was only in that meeting that Kamrul was given the alleged grounds. Note this is the first time he received notice about potential violations or the intention of the Board to remove him. The allegations were grave and the consequence far graver, so Kamrul requested sufficient time to respond before his removal was put to a vote.
After all, the general elections of new officers will be happening 4 days later. As to why the Board could not wait for the scheduled elections and had to remove Kamrul immediately a few days before elections, only Mr. Dee and Ambassador Cuisia would know. Whatever it is, it reeks of bad faith and want of due process.
The request of Kamrul for time to consult counsel and respond to the allegations he was hearing for the first time was expectedly denied, and right there and then he was removed. It was a hostile takeover.
Say what you will about what is written in the board resolution, the spirit is the same — to restrict Kamrul from going to the office.
In fact, he did not have the chance to retrieve his personal belongings from his office, which by the way included several sensitive personal information. Beyond what is written in the board resolution removing Kamrul, a significant number of private security personnel, with participation of several SWAT members as well crowded the premises of the ASA Office, all with the good intention of ensuring that Mr. Kamrul never set foot in the office ever again. Even the employees could attest to this.
The sequence of events surrounding Kamrul’s removal and the subsequent allegations against him reflect a pattern of bad faith, leadership instability, and governance failures within ASA.
The truth, however delayed, will come to light in due course.
We thank you for your continued graciousness in allowing us to air our side all for the pursuit of truth.
Sincerely,
Counsel for Mr. Kamrul Tarafder