28 November 2010

PFF Congress boots out Mari Martinez

by rick olivares

The tumultuous and controversial three-year reign of Jose Mari Martinez at the top of the Philippine Football Federation is over as he was unanimously ousted in the PFF 7th Ordinary Congress held last Saturday November 27, 2010 at the Audio-Visual Room of the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

Twenty-five presidents of the 29 present members football associations (out of the total 33) of the PFF voted to approve a resolution by the eight members of the Board of Governors recommending the removal and replacement of Martinez as president.

Mariano V. Araneta, current head of the Iloilo Football Association, was named interim president who will serve out the last year of Martinez’ four-year term. Araneta was also the chairman of the PFF’s Finance Committee who launched the probe into the federation’s finances.

Ismael Batiles of the Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental Football Association was named the Executive Vice President.

Martinez was accused and charged in court for the falsification of public documents when he had notarized a Secretary’s Certificate where one Henry Tsai was named a signatory to the PFF accounts in Banco de Oro and Bank of the Philippine Islands. The board unanimously claimed that there was no motion to include Tsai in the list of signatories.

Tsai, Martinez’ old officemate at Soriamont Steamship Agencies which is owned by Andres Soriano, was first named as “Managing Consultant” and later as “Executive Vice President.”

The audit by Campos, Campos & Co. showed that over PhP 5 million of PFF funds were entrusted by Martinez to Tsai with close to PhP 4 million unliquidated. There were also numerous entries in the accounting where Martinez was purported to use the funds to pay for personal usage such as groceries, medical and credit cards bills, as well as shares in the Valle Verde Country Club.

The PFF Congress also took him to task for misusing the Financial Assistance Plans annual subsidy from the Federation de International Football Association.

In his first year as president, Martinez survived an ouster move when Asian Football Confederation Mohammed Bin-Hammam made a guest appearance and announced a gift donation to the PFF of PhP10 million. Opponents of Martinez decried the move as a “bribe.” Several members then of the opposition bailed out at the last moment when key persons wavered in the move.

Last Saturday, there was no such break in the ranks. In fact, it was even bolstered by a change in heart of several BOG members who were perceived to be allies of Martinez.

Those who voted in favor of the resolution were Eric Pocon (Agusan del Sur), Richard Montayre (Cebu), Abenir Labja (Compostela Valley), Mariano Araneta (Iloilo), Arturo Pacificador Jr. (Laguna), Alex Macabangkit (Iligan Lanao del Norte), Cabili Sinsuat (Maguindanao-Cotabato City), Felix Rivera (Masbate), Ismael Batiles Jr. (Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental), Jug Jimenez (Misamis-Ozamiz), Juan Luis Carpio (Naga City-Camarines Sur), Jose Vito Borromeo (NCR), Mario Narola (Quezon), Dick Emperado (Negros Occidental), Mayor Joselito Piñol (North Cotabato), Ronald Patulin (Oriental Mindoro), Elipio Daypa (Quezon), Mario Garovillo (Rizal), Dave Araral (South Cotabato), Antonio Oculto (Sultan Kudarat), Mario Semorlan (Surigao del Norte), Glenn Caratativo (Tarlac), Antonio Buca (Zamboanga del Norte-Dipolog), and Flaviano Fucoy III (Zamboanga del Sur-Pagadian).

Renato Cosmod (Davao) and Jose Reneva (Camarines Norte) abstained from the voting while Leopoldo Arnaiz (Baguio) and Taghi Kashef (Legazpi-Albay) left without casting their votes.

“The decision has been made by a few,” noted Martinez who retreated to his old office at the PFF House of Football that was a few hundred meters from the Philsports Complex immediately after his removal. “I only worked for the best of football in this country but apparently, some people want my job because they are envious. Their move was unconstitutional. My lawyers will prepare a rebuttal and we will take this to the next level.”

Martinez conducted one last staff meeting at 8pm. As he closed out his meeting, he had one last pronouncement: “This is a sad day for Philippine football. But Mari Martinez will be back.”

Said Araneta of the whole affair, “There is such a thing as accountability. Obviously, there was none with the previous president.”

Araneta outlined some immediate concerns that the new administration of the PFF will put in effect. “First, we have to hire a lawyer to look into who is culpable in the missing funds and if we should file charges. Hopefully, we can recover them. Two, the BOG will meet every quarter to implement the programs that we want to put in place. We will get the chairman of each committee from the board so it is functioning. Third, we plan to revive the national tournaments maybe beginning with the Under-19. And fourth, we will look into the operations of the PFF and see how we can streamline the operations. Of course we will reach out to the AFC and to Mr. Hammam regarding the change in leadership and how this came about.”

Johnny Romualdez, Chairman Emeritus of the PFF and Martinez’ predecessor said that he expects Martinez to contest his ouster with the AFC and FIFA. “It might be bloody but what can we do? We have to do the right thing. This is to save football in our country.”

Bleachers Brew'

13 comments:

  1. Justice is served.

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  2. Correction Mari ... 25 of 29 is a resounding majority and not "a few." People are not envious ... they are pissed at your shenanigans. Philippine Football does not want you in charge.

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  3. Anonymous said...

    i hope you can find a the right person to handle PFF . A person who has the Heart and the will to thrive for the Love of the Game. Stop the Politics. It is a shame how Power and Money Corrupts ... where is the loyalty ? none , only Motives and I hope it is a for a good cause and not Cost ... We have only one Flag to raise , not Luzon , Visayas or Mindanao but the Philippines.

    Anonymous said...

    how cheap is the price of Loyalty and Integrity. People use people and it is a Fact , even the cleanest of clean has one single spot. We all make mistake and people who stand and admit to it with remorse ought to be forgiven. He is more of a man than the one who accuse and condemn without the purity of heart... Tell me one person who does not make a mistake for he has all the right to Cast the first stone...and Lead the men to a greater Path... Are there Any ??? NONE!!! YOU ARE NOT GOD, but I do hope you have One.

    Anonymous said...

    your president shame is all PFF members shame. If you bring it out to the world AFC & FIFA might not release any fund at all until this is resolved. Who will suffer, the whole Federation itself. Do you think it is fair for everybody.You are fighting a wrong cause , resolve it by your own ,sit down and talk peacefully, if there are funds to be returned and appropriated , give it back to the federation. Take out people who receives salary who does not do anything but to suck vital information and corrupts others for the downfall and expense of the other. Beware of employees who cannot be trusted and double face, they will do the same thing to whoever sits there until they will reach their goal to be in the Top, if he ever reach there. Anyway...There is no other way to go when you reach the top but Down...

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  4. What is this talk of God? Should we tolerate one corrupt official because we are all sinners?

    And should we let the PFF suffer even more at the hands of one corrupt man, because we are afraid of losing a FIFA dole out?

    Utter nonsense to suggest such things!

    Come to think of it, I wonder if the current crop of football operatives can survive and thrive without a FIFA dole out.

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  5. if the system will not corrupt one person , let him stand and be the next PFF President. Why gloria macapagal arroyo not ousted in admitting her crime about the hello garci tape. Did We forgive... or was is just the system that can be manipulated... let the man redeem himself.

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  6. i do not know mr.martinez. but based on the lack of development in ladies football in the country during the recent years, it is quite evident that mr.martinez' heart and interest is not in football. assuming for the sake of argument that mr.martinez did no embezzlement, it is quite dismal to imagine where have all the PFF money went. if not in somebody's pocket, then where? i hope that with the ouster of mr.martinez, philippine football can now move forward towards a promising future.

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  7. I hope the ouster of Mr. Martinez will resolve every problems of the Football Federation especially the Funds. But would it? that is for us to see when the new president reigns.

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  8. only ladies football? Football from the grass roots to the highest level is grossly under developed. did you see the drubbing our boys had against a thai team, a club who were relegated form the thai premier league last year and who are now plying their trade in the second tier . martinez' ouster may solve one problem but it will not solve THE problem. we need a proper league (semi-pro or full time professional) the UFL is a start but the system needs refinements. but with martinez getting the boot hopes are high for Philippine football in general, im not saying that he did or did not perpetrate anything, that is for the courts to decide. but like most of us i am just a fan. And again, i like most of us am looking towards the future, a future of a more professional federation and towards full professionalism.

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  9. That November 27, 2010 was a great victory for the Phil. Football Association. Good had indeed prevailed over evil that day of over 3 years embattled against PFF Pres. Jose Mari Martinez. Alam po natin ang katotohanan. Mr. Martinez " Tama na! Sobra na! " The congress without any lingering doubt voted the right way. Don't you be a liar, we need change for the betterment and looking towards the future of Philippine Football.

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  10. This is a rebirth of Philippine football. I just do hope Martinez admits his mistakes and asks forgiveness. unless he changes in his attitude, wherever he may go after PFF he will not be successful. May God have mercy on you Martinez, confess, repent and change your life.

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  11. I hope our PFA president and its officers in the FA of South Cotabato (FASCO) be ousted too like martinez for not doing the right things for football in our area... No developmental programs for the youth, no leagues and tournaments created, no coaching and refereeing programs happening... they just sit at the top of the coffee cup doing nothing...

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  12. Wow! Ang galing naman ng situation n'yo dyan, walang programa sa football yung PFA n'yo, ganun pala dyan sa inyo. Eh pa'no yung development ng youth system nyo at iba pa? dapat nga paalisin na rin yung president nyo...

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  13. When will Filipinos stop kibitzing and debating in the guise of Anonymous? What does that say about our sense of conviction? Wala ba tayong bayag?

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