Grandmaster Eugene Torre yesterday blamed strongman Florencio Campomanes for the deep division prevailing in Philippine chess.
Torre said Campomanes won’t stop until he gets what he wants — take full control of the federation. It marked the first time that the long-time chess king came out in public to single out the former three-term FIDE president.
"Campomanes’ fingerprints are on it from the moment the controversy started last year," said the 52-year-old former NCFP president.
Torre was forced to drop the bombshell after absorbing another vicious attack from fellow GM Joey Antonio last Saturday.
Antonio criticized Torre’s call for early election, saying it was a mere ploy to divert issues raised against him and NCFP secretary-general Sammy Estimo.
Torre said the issues raised by Antonio have been fully explained during the NCFP board meeting last February.
"Each director was given a copy of the financial report. All Estimo needs now is to come up with a detailed report which is about to be finished," he said.
The truth, according to Torre, is that Campomanes is behind the smear campaign to discredit the present NCFP leadership.
"He (Campomanes) will do it by any means even pitting players against players, friends against friends, kumpare against kumpare and compañero against compañero," said Torre.
The divide-and-rule tactic, according to Torre, has enabled Campomanes to get his one foot inside the NCFP through his understudy and FIDE official Casto "Toti" Abundo who was appointed executive-director. "I was the first to support the entry of Abundo because his presence would mean that there would be check and balance and transparency in the federation," said Torre.
"But it now appears, they have different agenda other than helping the federation," he added.
He cited the moves taken by Abundo to isolate Estimo and eventually ease him out of the federation.
"Akala ko ba gusto nila ng check and balance, bakit nila gustong alisin si Estimo? Who’s going to fiscalize them pag wala na si Estimo?" asked Torre. Torre said he’s also concerned about the careers of some players who have earned their ire like top-ranked International Master Mark Paragua, the most-bemedalled athlete in the last Southeast Asian Games.
"Who’s going to look after their welfare pag wala na si Estimo?" asked Torre.
Torre said he had appealed for peace and unity, the reason why he wanted to resolve the crisis through election.
"But now it seems that Campomanes is dead set on taking control by hook or by crook," said Torre. "Huwag lang sana idamay ang mga players at magkakaibigan sa away."
Torre said Campomanes has been at loggerheads with Estimo, his former lawyer in the celebrated libel case against the late Philippine Chess Federation president Art Borjal.
"For one reason or another, naghiwalay sila. Pati chess nadamay," Torre said.
The long drawn-out mess has affected him physically and psychologically, Torre admitted.
"Hindi na nga ako masyadong maka-prepare sa chess ko," he bewailed.
Torre said the federation has suffered because of the smear campaign.
"For the past six months, sponsors have been shying away from NCFP, forcing me and Sammy to shoulder all the office expenses, staff allowances and other bills of the federation," said Torre.
Despite the gloomy outlook, Torre said he‚s hoping that Campomanes‚ love for chess would prevail and preserve the house that he built in the last 50 years.
"Di naman nating ipinagkakaila ang malaking contribution ni Mr. Campomanes sa chess. Sana naman ay magkaisa na tayong lahat for the good of Philippine chess," said Torre.