BMPAP slams BSCP on elections

Who are your members?

This is what the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP) asked the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) in response to the latter’s statement that it has already informed its members of its scheduled election.

“Who are their members? What do they represent?” asked BMPAP co-founder Perry Mariano. “Are they the real stakeholders of Philippine billiards or at least the majority of it?”

The BMPAP has filed a petition before the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) asking it to intervene in the ongoing dispute and prevent the BSCP from holding an election last Dec. 5, saying that its present leadership led by   Ernesto Fajardo and chairman Yen Makabenta “no longer have the trust and confidence of the players.”

The POC ordered the BSCP to hold the scheduled election pending the result of an investigation the local Olympic movement will conduct.

The BSCP obliged but said it would reset its election in January next year. It also said that it had already informed all its members about the matter.

In its complaint, the BMPAP said that despite repeated queries, Fajardo had refused to disclose the names of the members who will be allowed to vote.

“It is our feeling that Mr. Fajardo and his group are purposely doing this to hide the fact that they have appointed only those people close to them so that they can perpetuate their tenure in the BSCP,” said the statement signed by dozens of players and managers, including BSCP directors Mahar Mangahas, Arturo Ilagan, Jonathan Sy and Efren “Bata” Reyes.

“We ask that membership in the association not be confined to selected friends of Mr. Makabenta and Mr. Fajardo but instead be spread among people who have been contributing to the growth and development of billiards in the country...In its present state only people who are handpicked by Makabenta and Fajardo can become members so that the BSCP in effect has become the private domain of these two men.”

Mariano added that they are asking the POC for help in holding a general assembly of all real stakeholders of Philippine billiards..

“We are requesting the POC to look on the criteria of BSCP in selecting its members, at kung ang mga miyembro ba nilang ito ay talagang nakakatulong sa sport o ginagawa lang ito hanapbuhay,” said Mariano.

He also refuted the allegation made by Fajardo that the BMPAP petition is just a form of harassment.

“We’re not harassing them. We’re just fighting for what is right and what is good for Philippine billiards and especially the players.”