By Edwin Rollon
SPORTS Commissioner Matthew ‘Fritz’ Gaston opened a ‘can of worms’ in the current leadership of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard ‘Dickie’ Bachman.
In a letter obtained by Sportstek.ph from multiple sources, Gaston addressed to President Ferdinand ‘BongBong’ Marcos, Jr., dated November 6, 2024, containing details of alleged 'anomalous situations and decisions made by Bachmann to favor his co-terminus employee.
“Top of the list was the unliquidated funds of his assistant Nino Deo Urquiaga, who was assigned as Special Disbursing Officer at the 2023 World Combat Games. He was issued a Notice of Disallowance for more than P500,000 unliquidated funds by the PSC resident Commission of Audit (COA), but instead, he submitted a ‘request for realignment’ of funds claiming the money was given to athletes as allowances, questionable since he took him a year to claim this when it could be submitted right after the event.
“Then Chairman Bachmann approved a referendum with Commissioners Bong Coo and Walter Torres as co-signatory".
The PSC is composed of a five-man Board.
“Mr. Urquiaga has also consistently involved himself in the procurement process to exert influence on the decisions made like what to order, and from whom to order seemingly for personal financial benefit,”
Gaston also branded Executive Director Paulo Tatad, an appointee of Bachman, as the ‘Most Travelled Executive Director’ contrary to his responsibility and tasked to supervise the day-to-day operations of the PSC.
Gaston further noted that the P160M budget for this year’s Batang Pinoy hardly reviewed the breakdown when it was approved on a lump sum basis for most of the cost components.
“ Our point here is the number of questionable deals that have been proposed under this administration of Chairman Dickie,” said Gaston in a letter.
“Our job as a PSC Board is to ensure the proper and prudent use of public funds entrusted to the PSC, but at times, we do not see that happening,” added Gaston.
“Regarding the last Paris Olympics, except for the fact that it was pulled out at the last moment even as the check was ready to be released to Chairman Bachmann, he requested the reimbursement of the plane fare of his daughter who even asked to submit a terminal report even though she has no legal entity as far as the PSC is concerned. Again, the intention alone of trying to pass on those expenses to PSC is highly questionable.“
"It is hoped that with this update, your office will understand our concern on what is continuously happening within the PSC,” said Gaston, also a former Commissioner at the Games and Amusement Board (GAB}.
