Frenemies and a bad investment. The truth, however, is somewhere between the lines. The third party in the PFF troubles sits down to be interviewed.
by Rick Olivares
This coming November 27, 2010, the 32 football associations under the Philippine Football Federation (PFF) will come together in Manila to convene for its year-end Congress.
The Congress will be significant for one thing – that disgruntled members will try to seek the vote of 2/3s of the assembly to oust the current federation president Jose Mari Martinez who is accused and has been taken to court for a variety of alleged offenses and violations stemming from falsification of public documents to misappropriation of monies given to the PFF through the Financial Assistance Program of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). FIFA provides $250,000 a year not counting the Vision Asia project that provides a similar amount.
In the midst of the contentions between the two parties is one Henry L. Tsai.
Last September 24, 2010, Richard Montayre of the Cebu Football Association and Dick Emperado of the Dumaguete Football Association filed a case against Martinez for falsification of public documents when he appointed Tsai to the position of Executive Vice President and transferred PFF funds into the latter’s account “for safekeeping” both without board approval. Both actions are not only a violation of the corporation code but also the federation’s by-laws and FIFA rules. Martinez admitted that the “appointment” of Tsai was “an honest mistake” and pledged to resolve the mess.
Who is Henry Tsai and what was role did he play in the PFF?
In a conversation with Tsai over coffee at the UCC in Burgos Circle at Bonifacio Global city last Wednesday evening, November 17, 2010, the former shipping man recounted how his relationship with Martinez and the PFF came about.
Both Martinez and Tsai worked together for four years at Soriamont, a shipping company, but lost contact with one another for almost 20 years. After a chance encounter at Amici Restaurant in Connecticut Street, Greenhills in mid-2009, Martinez invited Tsai to help football. Tsai initially declined describing himself as “bored and retired.”
Martinez outlined four responsibilities for Tsai should he accept the offer: one, to help with the marketing; two, to fund the PFF’s activities; three, to put up a shop at the basement of the PFF House of Football where he could sell football training equipment and other paraphernalia purchased from Taiwan (the rent for the basement was pegged at PhP40,000 a month); and four, to provide some living quarters for then-men’s national team coach Desmond Bulpin.
Tsai mulled the offer over because he was “never a sportsman” and he’d be like “a fish out of water.” But he eventually accepted and he infused the federation’s coffers with over PhP 3 million and lent a newly purchased Toyota Fortuner to Martinez for official use. “Without a promissory note that I would get paid back.” he added. “It was a gentleman’s agreement.”
“We didn’t have any money,” recounted Martinez. “We have so many programs and not enough money. So I asked Henry to invest.”
“The reason why Mari borrowed money from me was because by year-end wala nang pera ang PFF. There was nothing for payroll, 13th month pay, utilities, everything,” explained Tsai. Ironically, Tsai did not charge any interest to the loan except that he wanted to be paid back “the minute the aid money from FIFA arrives. I’m a good friend that’s why.”
At the start of 2010, the PFF’s Treasurer, Antonio “Bok” Marty, tendered his resignation but Martinez prevailed upon him to stay a few more months. When it became apparent that they could no longer convince Marty to stay, former PFF marketing officer Gerry Ledonio recommended to Martinez that Tsai be given a position to maximize his abilities.
The title bequeathed to Tsai was “Executive Vice President”.
Said Tsai of that move: “I didn’t want to be a part of anything because what do I know about football? I was there because Mari needed help. If you check, my salary was for only one peso. But Mari wrote three lines in the minutes of the meeting that was without the approval of the Board of Governors.”
The three lines Tsai was referring to was the Secretary’s Certificate to the PFF accounts with Banco de Oro and Bank of the Philippine Islands. Curiously, there were two different certificates. The one dated January 7, 2010 and signed by then PFF General Secretary Cyril V. Dofitas stated that Martinez and Tsai were approved by the board to sign any checks pertaining to the federation’s two accounts.
Members of the board of governors recall approving no such motion when they met up in Leyte on November 28, 2009. And it was because of this “falsification of public documents” that Martinez’ access to the PFF accounts were suspended and the basis for the complaint filed by Montayre and Emperado.
There was another Secretary’s Certificate, once more authenticated by Dofitas, who has since moved back to his native Iloilo following his mid-year resignation, dated January 21, 2010, this time stating there was a board resolution on November 28, 2010 that added Tsai to the signatories for the PFF’s BDO account.
In both certificates, the position stated next to Tsai’s name read: “Managing Consultant.”
Tsai admitted that he knew that there was no board resolution to his addition but when (PFF Finance Officer) Dennis Lacuesta asked me to sign some papers, I thought ayos na. But I was only with the PFF to sign checks nothing more. I also wanted to collect my money.”
But in documents obtained from PFF sources, Tsai did more than sign checks.
In the April 2010 edition of The Goalpost, the PFF’s official newsletter, it is written that the National Men’s Futsal Team that participated in the Asian Football Confederation Championship Qualifiers in Jakarta, Indonesia from February 20-25, was headed by Tsai.
On June 7, 2010, the Valle Verde Country Club, Inc. issued several memos to the PFF stating that the unpaid accounts of Ledonio, Martinez, and Tsai will lead to the suspension of the accounts and membership shares auctioned off.
In a memo dated June 15, 2010, Tsai informed the PFF’s security detail about the rules for access to the office.
One month later, Martinez and Tsai had a falling out and have hurled one accusation after another against each other. Each claiming the other party owes him money.
Martinez accuses Tsai of duping him into investing PFF money into an illegal venture (the Campo Verde Estates in Tagaytay that is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and has a cease and desist order to prevent the passage of a sale which we read more of in Part 3) in order to gain more money. “I realize it was wrong but I am determined to recover the money. I did this because we needed to make extra funds for our programs.”
However, according to Tsai, his fallout with Martinez began when he believed that the PFF passbook and its inflows from AFC/FIFA were being kept from him. He said that while his initial loan of PhP 2 million was paid by the PFF, the succeeding loans were not.
Yet in the final audit by Campos, Campos & Co., the accounting firm found out that Tsai had unliquidated cash advances that totaled up PhP 3,371,707.35. Even worse, the PFF has been left with a serious fund shortage of PhP 2,094,000.00 all the way until the end of 2010.
Last November 7, 2010, Tsai filed a complaint against Martinez and Marty for estafa and the violation of the bouncing check law at the Office of the City Prosecutor in Pasig City.
While Tsai says that their friendship is over, he does not wish to destroy Martinez. “All I want is my money back. And the Fortuner.”
Bleachers' Brew
Showing posts with label Henry Tsai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Henry Tsai. Show all posts
21 November 2010
19 November 2010
PFF 'mystery man' breaks silence
By Joaquin Henson
MANILA, Philippines - The man accused of absconding with Philippine Football Federation (PFF) funds came out the other day to tell his story and relate how he was hoodwinked into coughing up his own money for the sake of a friend.
PFF president Jose Mari Martinez earlier said businessman Henry Tsai was accountable for about P2.8 million of missing funds in the national sports association and promised to put him in jail. But even as Martinez charged Tsai with malversation, he offered to cover the missing amount through the sale of a property in Tagaytay and a Toyota Fortuner.
Tsai, however, said Martinez has no leg to stand on because the Tagaytay property is encumbered and the Toyota Fortuner is not his to sell. In retaliation, Tsai assailed Martinez for his excesses as PFF president and helping himself to commissions which should have gone to PFF coffers.
Last Nov. 9, Tsai filed a case against Martinez and PFF treasurer Antonio Marty for estafa in Pasig on the basis of issuing an unfunded check for P302,680. He claimed the PFF owes him about P1.5 million and Martinez, some P2 million.
“I never thought Mari would do this to me,” said Tsai who was introduced to Martinez when they were involved in the shipping business over 20 years ago. “Late last year, he asked me to advance some money for the PFF because they ran out of funds. I was to be paid back as soon as the FIFA subsidy came in. I lent the PFF P3 million without interest. I’m not a football guy but Mari appointed me executive vice president and invited me to use the ground floor of the PFF building at P40,000 a month for a football store.”
Tsai said he went to Taiwan to buy football training equipment to sell in the store and invested over P500,000 in the venture.
“I lent the PFF money in good faith without even getting a promissory note,” said Tsai. “They paid me back my P3 million then last July, they borrowed another P1.5 million. This time, they didn’t pay me back. I also lent Mari about P2 million for his personal expenses. Twice, I paid for his hospital bills in Medical City. I also gave him money for his daughter’s treatment and expenses for his two grandchildren. I couldn’t say no to Mari because he’s a sweet talker. I made a mistake in trusting him.”
Tsai said he eventually realized Martinez was mismanaging the PFF. “He’s good at juggling funds,” he went on. “When Mari couldn’t refuse a friend who lost money in a bank deal on account of his introduction to another friend, he lent him P1.4 million of PFF money without Board approval and never got it back. I understand Mari got a P20,000 commission for lending the PFF money. The security he got was in form of titles for a Tagaytay property but they’re encumbered.”
Tsai said Martinez claims to own a Toyota Fortuner but has no papers to prove it. “When I was in the market for a Fortuner, Mari found out and asked if I could put the car in his name to build up his credit rating,” said Tsai. “I agreed on condition he signed a deed of sale to me on a back-to-back basis which he did. Now, Mari claims the car is his but he signed a deed of sale.” Tsai said he lent Martinez his Nissan Cefiro about seven months ago and wants it back.
Tsai said he paid for his space in the PFF building for three months then held back when the PFF owed him money. “I’ll pay for the space but the PFF should pay me what it owes me,” he said. “I’m willing to run the store but Mari has to go. The PFF is better off without him. He lent out PFF money without authority and now the money is gone.”
Tsai said Martinez is accountable for several poor decisions that compromised the PFF.
“Mari thought of a football show and signed a contract to buy P300,000 worth of air time on a TV channel,” said Tsai. “The show was called ‘Football Now’ and it aired only two or three episodes when the deal was for 32 episodes. Nobody watched the 30-minute show because it was so poorly produced. Then, there was a World Cup show to raise money for the PFF and instead of raising money, it lost money. The PFF sold about P500,000 worth of World Cup tickets and someone got a 10 percent commission. I don’t know where the commission went. There are stories about Mari getting reimbursed for foreign trips which were supposed to be sponsored. The audit ordered by the PFF Board is very revealing.”
Tsai, 60, said he doesn’t want to send Martinez to jail.
“All I want is to be paid back what the PFF owes me,” said Tsai. “I’m willing to forget about the P2 million Mari owes me. I’ve been a born-again Christian for nine years and I’m ready to forgive him. I won’t pursue my personal case against Mari if he resigns as PFF president. He owes that to football.”
The PFF is slated to convene a National Congress in Manila on Nov. 27 but a Board of Governors meeting must precede it to determine the order of business involving 32 provincial football associations.
“I pray for Mari to step down quietly,” said Tsai. “I wouldn’t have come out with my side if he didn’t attack me. He once bragged that he might lose his shirt but I’ll lose my pants. If he has something against me, let him show the proof. I have proof against him and if he wants to face me in court, I’m prepared. His lawyers are sending feelers for us to meet but what for? For his own sake, he should resign gracefully and avoid embarrassment. If he insists on holding on to the PFF presidency, I’m afraid he won’t be backed up by the Board anymore. He’s been offering all-expenses-paid trips to Qatar to gain the support of certain Board members and Congress representatives but nobody’s for sale.”
Tsai said Martinez should leave the PFF in the hands of competent managers. “I pity Mari,” said Tsai. “He’s suffered two heart attacks. He’s stressed out. I’m afraid something bad might happen to him because of all his problems. But I’m pissed off by what he’s doing to me. I entered the PFF only after he asked me to help. Now, he’s accusing me of stealing when I brought out my own money to help the PFF. The public has the right to know who’s telling the truth.”
philstar.com
MANILA, Philippines - The man accused of absconding with Philippine Football Federation (PFF) funds came out the other day to tell his story and relate how he was hoodwinked into coughing up his own money for the sake of a friend.
PFF president Jose Mari Martinez earlier said businessman Henry Tsai was accountable for about P2.8 million of missing funds in the national sports association and promised to put him in jail. But even as Martinez charged Tsai with malversation, he offered to cover the missing amount through the sale of a property in Tagaytay and a Toyota Fortuner.
Tsai, however, said Martinez has no leg to stand on because the Tagaytay property is encumbered and the Toyota Fortuner is not his to sell. In retaliation, Tsai assailed Martinez for his excesses as PFF president and helping himself to commissions which should have gone to PFF coffers.
Last Nov. 9, Tsai filed a case against Martinez and PFF treasurer Antonio Marty for estafa in Pasig on the basis of issuing an unfunded check for P302,680. He claimed the PFF owes him about P1.5 million and Martinez, some P2 million.
“I never thought Mari would do this to me,” said Tsai who was introduced to Martinez when they were involved in the shipping business over 20 years ago. “Late last year, he asked me to advance some money for the PFF because they ran out of funds. I was to be paid back as soon as the FIFA subsidy came in. I lent the PFF P3 million without interest. I’m not a football guy but Mari appointed me executive vice president and invited me to use the ground floor of the PFF building at P40,000 a month for a football store.”
Tsai said he went to Taiwan to buy football training equipment to sell in the store and invested over P500,000 in the venture.
“I lent the PFF money in good faith without even getting a promissory note,” said Tsai. “They paid me back my P3 million then last July, they borrowed another P1.5 million. This time, they didn’t pay me back. I also lent Mari about P2 million for his personal expenses. Twice, I paid for his hospital bills in Medical City. I also gave him money for his daughter’s treatment and expenses for his two grandchildren. I couldn’t say no to Mari because he’s a sweet talker. I made a mistake in trusting him.”
Tsai said he eventually realized Martinez was mismanaging the PFF. “He’s good at juggling funds,” he went on. “When Mari couldn’t refuse a friend who lost money in a bank deal on account of his introduction to another friend, he lent him P1.4 million of PFF money without Board approval and never got it back. I understand Mari got a P20,000 commission for lending the PFF money. The security he got was in form of titles for a Tagaytay property but they’re encumbered.”
Tsai said Martinez claims to own a Toyota Fortuner but has no papers to prove it. “When I was in the market for a Fortuner, Mari found out and asked if I could put the car in his name to build up his credit rating,” said Tsai. “I agreed on condition he signed a deed of sale to me on a back-to-back basis which he did. Now, Mari claims the car is his but he signed a deed of sale.” Tsai said he lent Martinez his Nissan Cefiro about seven months ago and wants it back.
Tsai said he paid for his space in the PFF building for three months then held back when the PFF owed him money. “I’ll pay for the space but the PFF should pay me what it owes me,” he said. “I’m willing to run the store but Mari has to go. The PFF is better off without him. He lent out PFF money without authority and now the money is gone.”
Tsai said Martinez is accountable for several poor decisions that compromised the PFF.
“Mari thought of a football show and signed a contract to buy P300,000 worth of air time on a TV channel,” said Tsai. “The show was called ‘Football Now’ and it aired only two or three episodes when the deal was for 32 episodes. Nobody watched the 30-minute show because it was so poorly produced. Then, there was a World Cup show to raise money for the PFF and instead of raising money, it lost money. The PFF sold about P500,000 worth of World Cup tickets and someone got a 10 percent commission. I don’t know where the commission went. There are stories about Mari getting reimbursed for foreign trips which were supposed to be sponsored. The audit ordered by the PFF Board is very revealing.”
Tsai, 60, said he doesn’t want to send Martinez to jail.
“All I want is to be paid back what the PFF owes me,” said Tsai. “I’m willing to forget about the P2 million Mari owes me. I’ve been a born-again Christian for nine years and I’m ready to forgive him. I won’t pursue my personal case against Mari if he resigns as PFF president. He owes that to football.”
The PFF is slated to convene a National Congress in Manila on Nov. 27 but a Board of Governors meeting must precede it to determine the order of business involving 32 provincial football associations.
“I pray for Mari to step down quietly,” said Tsai. “I wouldn’t have come out with my side if he didn’t attack me. He once bragged that he might lose his shirt but I’ll lose my pants. If he has something against me, let him show the proof. I have proof against him and if he wants to face me in court, I’m prepared. His lawyers are sending feelers for us to meet but what for? For his own sake, he should resign gracefully and avoid embarrassment. If he insists on holding on to the PFF presidency, I’m afraid he won’t be backed up by the Board anymore. He’s been offering all-expenses-paid trips to Qatar to gain the support of certain Board members and Congress representatives but nobody’s for sale.”
Tsai said Martinez should leave the PFF in the hands of competent managers. “I pity Mari,” said Tsai. “He’s suffered two heart attacks. He’s stressed out. I’m afraid something bad might happen to him because of all his problems. But I’m pissed off by what he’s doing to me. I entered the PFF only after he asked me to help. Now, he’s accusing me of stealing when I brought out my own money to help the PFF. The public has the right to know who’s telling the truth.”
philstar.com
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