Top Philippine football official resigns amid allegations of hazing !

Karl Decena and Jaemark Tordecilla, InterAKTV

A top official of the Philippine Football Federation has stepped down from his post amid allegations that he had performed a hazing ritual on a member of the organization’s technical staff.



PFF secretary-general Roland Tulay confirmed to InterAKTV that he has resigned from his post effective October 31, saying he wants to concentrate on his duties as president of the National Capital Region Football Association (NCRFA), the governing football body of Metro Manila.


But multiple sources told InterAKTV that his resignation was a way to “save face” after reports surfaced that he had presided over a hazing incident to initiate Ariel Serrantes, a new employee, into the PFF.


Eyewitnesses said the incident happened during a despedida party for another PFF employee at the federation’s House of Football in Pasig City. According to people who were there, Tulay brandished his paddle during the party, hinting about what he planned to do with it.


Later that night, sources said they witnessed Tulay perform a hazing ritual on Serrantes, hitting him with a paddle at the back of his legs twice.


Tulay has denied all allegations.


“There is no other reason for my resignation except my focusing on NCRFA. There is no truth whatsoever to that allegation,” said Tulay.

PFF president Nonong Araneta confirmed Tulay’s resignation, but refused to comment about the alleged hazing incident. Despite his resignation as secretary-general, Tulay remains on the PFF Board of Governors.

A lawyer by profession, Tulay played for the University of the Philippines Integrated School football team before attending the university, where he incidentally served as Grand Archon of the Sigma Rho fraternity in 1997.


He managed the Sunken Garden United Football Club, a team based in UP, as well as the Maroons’ centennial men’s football team that bagged the UAAP title in 2008

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