By Edwin Rollon
PHILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Matthew ‘Fritz’ Gaston on Monday confirmed submitting a letter to Malacanang containing a report on what he called 'questionable situations/decisions' of Chairman Richard 'Dickie' Bachmann.
“As a member of the PSC Board, it pains me to find out such things happened right under our noses, unfortunately, because one of our members allowed them. After getting documents to prove that these anomalies transpired, I will not take this sitting down. Enough is enough, these things must be stopped and corrected,” said Gaston.
“As a government official, it’s my duty and responsibility to inform the President about this. Lingkod-bayan kami, servant of the athletes, dapat crusader tayo na labanan yung hindi tama as we have to protect the public funds entrusted to the agency,” said Gaston.
The former PBA player and amateur basketball standout said copies of documents and vital evidence that will substantiate his claim are attached to the letter he sent to President Marcos.
“Hindi ko naman ito gagawin kung walang mga dokumento. Kailangan itong malaman ng Presidente at responsibilidad ko ito as member of the PSC Board,” added Gaston.
Sportstek.ph obtained a copy of Gaston’s letter dated November 6, 2024, from multiple sources. It's also circulated in the media.
“Top of the list was the unliquidated funds of his assistant Nino Deo Urquiaga, who was assigned as Special Disbursing Officer of the 2023 World Combat Games. The Commission of Audit (COA) already issued a Notice of Disallowance for the more than P500,000 unliquidated funds from this project.
“But instead, he submitted a ‘request for realignment’ of funds claiming the money was given to athletes as allowances, questionable since it took him a year to claim this when it could be submitted right after the event. And Chairman Bachmann approved a referendum duly signed by Commissioners Bong Coo and Walter Torres,” stated Gaston in the letter.
“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.
“Got a copy of the international and local trips of all PSC officials for 2024 from the Travel Department and it clearly showed Mr. Tatad has the greatest number of ‘official’ trips.
Gaston further notes that the P160M budget for this year’s Batang Pinoy was hardly reviewed regarding 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.
“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,” stated Gaston, a former Commissioner at the Games and Amusement Board (GAB}, in a letter.
