NCFP chessers, PSC draw court’s ire

The abrupt departure of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines-backed RP team to the World Chess Olympiad the other day drew the ire of a Makati Regional Trial Court judge, who labelled the move as an "utter disrespect and disregard of the court’s authority."

Presiding judge Ricardo Rosario of Makati RTC Branch 66 expressed his indignation yesterday upon learning in the papers that five members of the six-man RP squad had already left for Istanbul, Turkey Thursday night without informing the court.

"The move to leave the country without informing us does not sit well with the court because they knew in the first place that there is an existing court proceeding," said Rosario.

He added: "While the court cannot prevent them from performing an act without a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order), the fact that the petition has already been filed and the court has taken cognizance of this, the respondents should have at least informed us of their plans."

Rosario pointed out that two of those players, GMs Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Buenaventura Villamayor, were present in the initial hearing of the case involving the NCFP and the Philippine Chess Federation Wednesday and should have informed the court of their plan.

"How can these players be the representatives of the country whose very laws they have no respect. If they cannot even respect the authority of the court, how can they represent the country in a global competition?," said PCF legal counsel Florante Arceo Bautista. "They may not be violating the letter of the law, but their act is a complete disregard of the spirit of the law."

Although these players have left, they would still be liable and accountable for what they did should the TRO be issued, according to Rosario. "They virtually preempted a court action and they will have to account for what they did."

The three others who left were IMs Barlo Nadera and Ronald Bancod and NM Idelfonso Datu, while NCFP president GM Eugene Torre stayed behind to represent the group in the hearing which was again reset for Monday at 2 p.m.

A court observer noted that it was the judge whom the NCFP had affronted and not the PCF.

At the same time, Rosario reprimanded the Philippine Sports Commission for releasing financial assistance to the NCFP amounting to P700,000 despite the petition filed by the PCF for a TRO.

"There is knowledge that the course of action here is not to release the money," said Rosario. "It appears that the lawyer of the PSC has been remiss in her duties as counsel of the PSC."

The PCF, headed by its president Jesus Ingeniero, filed the petition Oct. 16, seeking to stop the PSC from releasing financial assistance to the NCFP and preventing the breakaway group from participating in the Olympiad slated Oct. 27-Nov. 12.

Despite receiving the summons in the morning of Oct. 17, the PSC Board still proceeded with the meeting Tuesday afternoon and approved the release of the check Wednesday upon consultation with the Office of the Government Corporate Council.