Lady chessers out of RP team, hit NCFP

Women International Masters Christine Rose Mariano and Sherie Joy Lomibao yesterday decried the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ move to arbitrarily drop them off the list of the national team for absenteeism, thus depriving them of at least a monthly stipend worth P4,000.

Based on the report submitted by the NCFP to the Philippine Sports Commission, which disburses the allowances of the members of the various national teams, the two lady chessers were present in only less than 12 days of training in a month, prompting the chess body to recommend for their exclusion.

Mariano and Lomibao added that Gene Poliarco, executive director of the NCFP, had required them to sign up for their attendance daily to be reinstated.

But the two chessers pointed out that another team member -Ariane Caoili - has a complete attendance despite beind based in Australia for more than two years now.

Mariano said Arnold, Arianne’s father, signed for his daughter who is living with her Australian mother in Australia.

The two brought this up to Poliarco, who said: "Kung ayaw ninyo, di ko kayo pinipilit, anyway kayo naman ang may gusto niyan, hindi ba? At huwag niyo nang pakialaman si Caoili."