New leadership dispute hits Philippines Federation

Four hundred local Philippine football aficionados get to honor former football greats from the sixties to the eighties in the Philippine Football Federation Grand Awards Night at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City. Among the former football figures to be cited are Manuel Nieto, Faustino Lim, Danny Weineki, Quintin Co, Eddie Llamas Jr Mindo Fajardo, Henri Kahn and Honesto Isleta, the last two former PFF presidents. "A highlight of the evening includes the awarding of the Mr And Mrs Football of the Year," PFF vice president Tony Chua told the Manila Times. Mark Villon (pictured), who saw action for the national team in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games, will be awarded as Mr Football while Edna Agravante and Andrea will share Miss Football honors.

PFF president Johnny Romualdez, who took part in the FIFA Congress in Munich, will be going straight from the airport to welcome past and present football starts in the event sponsored by Lufthansa, the German national carrier. However, just months after dodging a vote of no confidence, Romualdez is facing a new threat to his leadership.

"The PFF is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Certification of Registration was revoked by SEC on 3 November 2003 due to noncompliance with reportorial requirements," Asian Football Confederation Women's Committee deputy chair Cristy Ramos told Sun Star Cebu. "Thus, all acts done after revocation have no legal effect, including the 30 November 2003 PFF election. Johnny Romualdez cannot be the legal president," she anniounced. Asked to comment on the issue, Romualdez said he refused "to be led to a press war" and said Ramos should take her complaint "through proper channels."

However, the Philippine Olympic Committee quickly requested former PFF president Rene Adad to help out in the ongoing football leadership dispute. POC legal counsel Emigdio Tanjuatco informed Adad of his need to get involved after learning that the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked the certificate of incorporation of the PFF three years ago and no action was taken to correct the situation afterwards. Tanjuatco explained in his letter to Adad on 5 June that if the situation is not addressed, it will "create doubts on the PFF’s legal capacity to act" and receive assistance from its benefactors, or sponsors.

Members of the PFF, which include National Capital Region Football Association president Jose Vito Borromeo, is endorsing Adad in helping convince the SEC to lift its order of revocation. "Concerned members of the Philippine football community believe that Adad is a good choice to take over the affairs of the PFF in a holdover capacity," commented Peter Atencio of Manila Standard Today. "This is because Adad was still the legally recognized president of the PFF before the situation came about."

See also: Media highlights Philippine leadership intrigues (14 Feb)