Campo not cleared to come home

"Take me home."

International Chess Federation (FIDE) honorary president Florencio Campomanes made this plea Thursday after he was visited by a high-ranked embassy official on his hospital bed in Antalya, Turkey.

Consul General and Philippine Embassy First Secretary Alfonso Ver visited the former FIDE chief (1982-1995) and tried to grant the latter’s request to go home for his 80th birthday Feb. 22.

But doctors prevented them from doing so due to the delicate nature of the injuries sustained by former Fide head in a vehicular accident early this month.

Instead, Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim Guinomla has personally interceded with the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to facilitate the release of the passports and visas of Campo’s wife, Lays, and 19-year-old son, Florencio "Floren" Campomanes IV.

Campomanes’ elder sons – Florencio "Renci" Campomanes II and Florencio "Cio" Campomanes III – have visited him in Turkey together with family friend Casto "Toti" Abundo, a FIDE rating specialist who also attended the FIDE presidential board meeting in Antalya before the accident.

Reports from a chess website stated that Campomanes, who was sent a get well note by former President Fidel V. Ramos, is being treated for post traumatic depression.

"I cannot stand. I cannot sit. Why can’t I do such a simple thing?" the website quoted Campo. – Joey Villar