22 July 2012

Limpag: Will AFC audit uncover a can of PFF worms?


Fair Play
Sunday, July 22, 2012
A FEW months after Mari Martinez was ousted as the PFF president, I asked a few officials if they were going to pursue a case against the former president.
Surprisingly, they said no, but their logic wasn’t much of a surprise the former president was suffering from an illness and was in-and-out of the hospital.
And that seemed to be the last of it.
But because of an audit of how former AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam’s spent his funds, the PFF under Nonong Araneta will be forced to revisit the issue.
The AFC audit uncovered that Hammam gave $60,000 to Martinez and also covered his
medical bill, which amounted to some $12,000. Where the $60,000 went is anybody’s guess as even Nonong says he has no idea about that.
I’d like to know when the $60,000 was given as this could mean that the audit wasn’t complete as Hammam, who visited the country in 2009, also pledged to give P10 million---half in 2009 and half in 2010--to the PFF. Where it went? I have no idea, but I think the present officers of the PFF know where it went.
And I hope, for the sake of transparency, they’ll show us the figures because the AFC audit showed Hammam paid for Martinez’s medical bills but a financial report submitted to the PFF BOG in January, 2011--a month after Martinez was ousted--also showed PFF money being spent for medical and credit card bills. I think it was close to P500,000.
And that was just some of the PFF funds spent for personal use.
Where did those $60,000 and P10 million go? I’d like to know and I don’t agree with what Nonong Araneta said, that the PFF doesn’t have to pursue it if it was just a personal transaction between Hammam and Martinez.
In an interview with AP, Araneta said, “If Mr. Hammam ever gave money to Mr. Martinez, it should be Mr. Hammam who should explain ...and the PFF has nothing to do with that.
If Mr. Martinez received funds for his personal use, we cannot go after him because it was just between the two of them. Now, if money went to the PFF and was taken out for certain individuals, we will go after them.”
This practice of sending funds “during crucial times” is not new. Hammam was trying to win the support of the FA presidents in his bid for the Fifa vice presidency, hence his generosity. And in the past, PFF presidents who face trouble suddenly have very loose purses.
I remember when another former president was facing an ouster move, all FA presidents (the ones who will vote) suddenly got a P20,000 “communication aid.” After that, the ouster move was canned.
“I didn’t touch it because it was deposited to my personal account,” one president told me.
When Martinez was facing an ouster move, well, let’s just say that he managed to hold them off, until he made the mistake of giving up the Azkals’ home game, then, it was game over.
I really don’t buy Nonong’s explanation that he doesn’t know where the $60,000 went because as I have happened to observe in the PFF, people talk all the time, especially when money’s involved.
After I first wrote that Martinez should be ousted, someone told me that a particularly feisty FA president, who also wanted Mari out, met the former president and was asked point blank,” How much do you want? Four..Five…monthly? Give me your ATM account.”
I was told he didn’t accept the bribe, but when I heard the story, I wondered who else got that offer and months later, Martinez survived an ouster vote.
You may say that all of these are old issues, and may just hamper the PFF but I still think Nonong should look into where the $60,000 went. Even if it was a personal transaction, but still the fact that Martinez was PFF president means the federation was involved. Why, if he wasn’t the PFF president, would he have been able to enter into a personal transaction?
And if personal transactions are OK, would that mean future personal transactions between PFF officials and FA officials will be off the books?
I hope the PFF investigates the matter because the guys who benefitted from the $60,000 may still be in office.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 23, 2012.

5 comments:

  1. Do you have evidence Mr. Limpag of the alledged money. If so, you should expose it yourself and not carry with you the present PFF.
    As much as the present PFF would want to pursue this case on my own opinion, there should be evidence to even ask Mr. Martinez that he receives the money from Mr. Hammam. Black and white.
    I 100% agree that there is corruption in footbal organization of the world and even in our country but to accuse somebody of something. Also not in the football world, in government and other institutions which some brave few expose with evidence just like what happen to the ousted CJ Corona. Due to not giving the proper SALN, our prosecutors were able to show that he has a lot of money not declared in the SALN.
    Without EVIDENCE that Mr. Martinez actually received it aside from the audit of the AFC. Mr. Limpag, your story is plain "HEARSAY" no matter how controversial. Mr. Martinez can easily deny that he did not receive anything unless he signed something for his receipt of the said amount.

    I hope you read my comment and prove me wrong by exposing your evidence. Mamaya kawawa naman yung tao at inaakusahan mo tapos wala naman ebidensya kang maipakita. Mr. Hammam can easily write on the audit that he gave somebody money but without receipt. Please ask the AFC for the copy of the signed receipt on the audit.

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  2. Also in addition, for the sake of transparent journalism on your side or as you say for the "sake of transparency" where you seem to imply the need for the PFF to make an investigation on this matter.
    Please be transparent about this by sharing your very acceptable evidence before you ask any responsible body to investigate.
    If you believe your evidence is credible then give it to the PFF or any concerned government body like the Ombudsman. Then they can build up a case.
    Am I right or wrong?

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  3. Nice suggestion boy pick up ng bading sa may rotonda. Ask the government to meddle, and our country automatically gets banned. What a time for this to come out with elections just around the corner, an idiot senator up for reelection will find this juicy bone, turn this into a circus.

    Here's a better suggestion. Magpatumbong ka na lang kay Paul Weiler!

    ReplyDelete
  4. So what do you want, you are so genius enough to say you thoughts against my thoughts.
    Gusto mo patumbong tayong dalawa...baka naman ikaw ang bakla.
    Magsalita ka nang maganda hindi yung pabara. Unless talagang BAKLA ka. Mr.Anonymous23 July 2012 12:21.
    Ang layo nang sinasabi mo sa usapin.

    ReplyDelete
  5. To Boy PikaP at Anonymous :

    Hahahahahahahah,,, at hahahaha,, pareho kayong dalawa,, hahahahah..ang swerte ni Paul Weiler..

    ReplyDelete