Pichay tops NCFP elections; protest up

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) ratified its constitution and by-laws then unanimously voted former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay and 14 others to a new four-year term in Tagaytay over the weekend.

In a well-attended general assembly at the Tagaytay International Convention Center, officers of the various clubs and associations in the country gave Pichay a fresh mandate under the supervision of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Pichay, who helped produce three of the country’s nine grandmasters in just a span of five months since last September, garnered a perfect 175 votes.

NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was a close second with 173 votes. Third was another long-time Pichay lieutenant, Atty. Edmundo Legaspi, with 130 votes.

Atty. Romeo Serratubias and Red Dumuk wound up fourth and fifth with 123 and 119 votes, respectively.

A total of 175 votes was counted in the four-hour exercise witnessed by POC deputy secretary-general Mark Joseph.

Also present during the election were FIDE honorary president Florencio Campomanes and FIDE administrator and NCFP director Casto Abundo.

The elections were held despite a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by Quezon City Judge Reynaldo Daway of Branch 90 on the petition filed by former NCFP secretary-general Atty. Samuel Estimo and seven other board of directors.

Estimo earlier asked the court to prevent the election from taking place, saying Pichay’s group did not properly inform the board of the forthcoming elections. He later set his own election of officers on Feb. 2.