Torre, Joey seek reforms in PCF

GMs Eugene Torre and Rogelio Antonio, Jr. yesterday called for reforms in the Philippine Chess Federation for alleged mismanagement even as the chess body is confident of ending the Chess Millennium Grand Prix row with a final ruling from the Bureau of Internal Revenue this week.

The country's top players sought the revamp in the aftermath of the controversy stemming from the PCF's decision to impose the tax scheme on the winners' purses in the recent chess GP.

In a hastily-called press conference, Antonio denounced the PCF for its attempt to slash 20 percent or P200,000 from his P1 million prize in the richest-ever chess tourney and maintained that under a provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1997, "all prizes granted to athletes in local and international sports competitions" are exempted from the local taxes.

But PCF chair Arturo Borjal said it was the BIR which had informed the association of the existence of the tax law on prizes and awards granted athletes although it has yet to come up with a clarification on the matter.

Borjal cited the previous practice of sponsors shouldering the taxes due winners of big chess events like the Far East Bank-backed GM international tournaments.

The row, Antonio stressed, has hampered his preparations for the Indonesian Open in Bali where he and Torre are set to compete starting tomorrow, and the Asian Zonals set in Vietnam beginning May 21. Antonio has yet to accept his prize.

"Akala ko pagkatapos ng chess GP, makakapagpahinga na ako," said Antonio. "Dapat sila (PCF) ang tumulong para sa preparasyon ko, sila pa ang distraction."

"There's always a risk. There's a risk now and there will be a risk in the future," said Torre.

Antonio and Torre, however, said Borjal and PCF president Jesus Ingeniero are not responsible for the fiasco.