TATAP exec relieved due to alleged scam

Table Tennis Association of the Philippines president Rufino Go relieved yesterday secretary-general Dante Boquiren for his alleged involvement in a scam in the recent Batang Pinoy where 'ghost umpires’ were reportedly listed in the team officials' list to draw allowances.

Go said the decision was made so TATAP would not be accused of being biased in the investigation being conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission.

Umpires Eugene Nora and Roel Ponte and deputy referee Rufinito Francisco accused Boquiren the other day of using fictitious names to facilitate the release of allowances by technical officials who worked in last week’s second Batang Pinoy Games in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

Boquiren flatly denied using "ghost umpires" and claimed he deputized several local men to work with him in the staging of the table tennis events in Kalayaan town.

According to the TATAP officials who are known to be belong to the group of former national coach Oscar Santilices, Boquiren used the names of Imelda Deoferio, Epifania Melchor, Carmelo Resane, Ofelio Eslava, Adolfo Derinda, George Wong, Roma Austria and Manrique Alojada in the payroll even if these people were not legitimate umpires. — Joey Villar