Tiukinhoy: "I did not lie."

CEBU, Philippines - "I did not lie."

This was the reaction of Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI) commissioner Felix O. Tiukinhoy, Jr. following the call for his resignation by Southwestern University (SWU) athletic director Ryan P. Aznar on grounds of incompetence and dishonesty.

In a press conference last Friday, Aznar urged Tiukinhoy to step down from his post, accusing the CESAFI executive of being a liar for not honestly telling the truth about the exact amount of the refund for the rehabilitation expenses of SWU forward Cleford Maguate, who suffered a knee injury during Game 2 of the 3rd CESAFI Partner's Cup finals last year.

In rebuffing what he described as a false accusation, Tiukinhoy branded Aznar as a "loose cannon who keeps on twisting the facts, never wants to admit the facts and no longer cooperative on all CESAFI activities."

Tiukinhoy explained that with regards to the payment of Maguate's rehabilitation of his MCL injury, he and Aznar have agreed on the mode of payment.

In fact, Tiukinhoy has the record from Aspac bank that Aznar accepted and signed the check # 9445 dated May 12, 2009 worth P15,780 and since then they have agreed to divide the amount, with the CESAFI giving P7,000.

Tiukinhoy insisted the CESAFI did not fail in its obligation of giving assistance to injured CESAFI players and they have the records to prove that.                                                                                                                                   

 As far as I am concerned, I have fully paid his request for payment since he did not question anything from the time he received the check payment in May 12, 2009 until his press conference last Friday Jan. 15, 2010. Sometime in December 2009, his new coach Bong Begontes texted me about the balance and I told him to please discuss it with Ryan (Aznar) as we have negotiated already for the payment," stated Tiukinhoy via e-mail.

Tiukinhoy traced the animosity of Aznar to CESAFI when the SWU representative was not elected to the presidency of CESAFI for the 2009-2010 season, a claim Aznar vehemently denied during the press conference last Friday.  

"Kana pa hinoon nga wala mi labad sa ulo," was Aznar's reply when asked if he was disappointed that SWU did not succeed Engr. Rolando Villa as president.

But for Tiukinhoy, it's the other way around.

"Before the CESAFI election, Aznar was already telling some of the athletic directors on his plans in running the affairs of CESAFI. When they were not elected, Aznar's attitude to CESAFI and to me was no longer cooperative," said Tiukinhoy. THE FREEMAN