PCF bets victims of politics

ISTANBUL, Turkey — "We are victims of politics."

These were the words of veteran chess player Petronio Roca as organizers, acting on orders of officials close to former International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Florencio Campomanes, blocked Saturday the entry of the Philippine chess team sent by the Philippine Chess Federation.

The World Chess Olympics opened Saturday.

The PCF team, which included Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., Enrique Paciencia, Richard Bitoon, Rolando Martinez and Jayson Gonzalez, arrived here Thursday morning from a connecting flight from Dubai only to be informed that the slot for the Philippine team had already been taken by the NCFP led by Grandmaster Eugene Torre.

"We are only following orders from FIDE," said organizers.

PCF officials, led by FIDE delegate and PCF director Enofre Manuel, blasted the latest move by Campomanes, who formed the NCFP, whose membership he also pushed for approval in a FIDE presidential board meeting last August in Tehran, Iran.

"This is again one of the political maneuvers Campomanes has taken to completely destroy the PCF and replace it with his new organization, and he’s doing it even if he has to resort to illegal means," said Manuel. "If they, indeed, approved the membership of the NCFP in Tehran, the PCF remains a regular member, a status it has held for 43 years, until the ratification of the General Assembly (Nov. 3)."

"Until that time, the PCF remains a member and has the sole right to send a team to the Olympics," he added.

He and PCF president Jesus Ingeniero and secretary general Edgar de Castro are here to attend to the Philippine team. However, Manuel said they will stay on to present the federa-tion’s side during the General Assembly of FIDE on Nov. 10.

Ingeniero said Campomanes personally formed the NCFP on Aug. 16, and although the recognition of the Philippine Olympic Committee was only conditional subject to approval of its affiliation by the FIDE, he sought, through other means, recognition of the FIDE board within three days the letter of recommendation was issued by the POC Aug. 23.

And although the FIDE presidential board’s approval was also conditional subject to ratification of the General Assembly. Campomanes ensured the PCF would not be able to fight for the status quo in its membership by using his influence in the FIDE hierarchy.

At his instance the FIDE secretariat informed the Philippine Sports Commission to stop providing financial assistance to the PCF and channel it instead to the NCFP.

The NCFP drew the ire of the Makati regional court when it sent the six-man team to Istanbul 10 days ago while a hearing for a petition for a temporary restraining order was being heard.

Campomanes, Ingeniero said, had asked the chess organizers to inform the PCF that it was honoring the Torre group to represent the Philippines in the Olympics and asked the Turkish Embassy in Manila not to issue visa to the PCF team and its officials.

When they arrived in Istanbul, the organizers would not accredit the players and its officials. The PCF was delisted from the roll of FIDE members and from the list of participating teams.

"We would like to help you, but these are orders from the top," said the organizers.

PCF officials are asking for a chance to answer charges, if any, against the federation or its officials, although they fear it might also be difficult to do so because they have also been denied a seat in the committees and the General Assembly. Casto "Toti" Abundo, former confidant of Campomanes and currently general secretary of FIDE, has been named FIDE delegate by NCFP.