BSCP STATEMENT ON ISSUES
by June Diokno
BSCP Spokesman and Program Director
25 July 2008
For the nth time, Mssrs. Aristeo Puyat and Perry Mariano are again raising the issues of fairness and conflict of interest against the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and its top officers in order to disrupt the program and events of BSCP and its partner organizations. Although these questions have been answered and disposed of in the past, the BSCP will restate again its position on these manufactured issues.
1.Fairness in BSCP?s Selection of Players for International Competition
Contrary to the claims of Mssrs. Puyat and Mariano, the BSCP maintains a strict selection and qualifying system for choosing players for international events organized and sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU). Players are chosen according to the criteria of playing ability, current form, competition record, and, not least, capability to represent honorably our organization and our country.
It should be borne in mind that the spots in WPA and APBU events are granted to the BSCP by virtue of its membership in the APBU and WPA system, which we have diligently maintained for over two decades. As such the BSCP has full authority and control over the disposition or assignment of spots.
When certain players managed by Messrs. Puyat, Mariano and Jonathan Sy rejected the leadership and governance of the BSCP through a manifesto last February and proclaimed their allegiance to a rival association, the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), they took themselves out of the BSCP selection system. Moreover, it is on the record, that these players declined invitations to participate in BSCP qualifiers for certain events, such as the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, on the dubious grounds that henceforth the BMPAP would be conducting its own qualifiers and choosing Filipino players for international competition.
Later, when the BMPAP?s boast proved empty and the BSCP conducted its qualifiers without their players, the billiards managers loudly complained that the BSCP selection process was not fair and transparent. Their players should have been considered and given every chance to be selected. And they continue to complain up to now.
We say: the BMPAP players and managers cannot have it both ways. They cannot reject the BSCP as governing body for billiards in the country, and expect at the same time its support and patronage in international competition. They cannot boycott BSCP organized and sanctioned events and yet expect to be handed a free ride to international events.
The solution we offer is simple. Players who signed the manifesto against the BSCP can restore their standing with the association by writing to our organization and affirming their allegiance and support for the BSCP. Then they can be eligible again to join the selection system for international competition.
2. Conflict of Interest Issue
The conflict of interest issue that has been raised by Mssrs. Puyat and Mariano about Mr. Yen Makabenta?s being president of Raya Sports and chairman of BSCP has no basis in law and in fact. This is an old, old issue that has been answered before, and will again be dismissed in the same way.
First, the BSCP is a private association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It has as members stakeholders in the billiards industry and community, which include players, businessmen, parlor owners, event promoters, managers, technical officials, aficionados and fans. Every full-fledged member who is qualified to vote is qualified to serve in the board of directors and the roster of officers. Mr. Makabenta is such a member.
Second, there is no contradiction or conflict between Mr. Makabenta?s company being engaged in sports promotions and his serving as chair for the BSCP, any more than there is a conflict for other officers who happen to be connected with businesses engaged in the billiards industry. To the contrary, the BSCP encourages all members to do everything they can to organize events and promote pool around the country and extends its help to them in doing so. This is the practice in international pool associations like the Billiards Congress of America, where the president of Brunswick Billiards is currently its president. Were we to disqualify members with business interests in our sport from serving our association, the BSCP would not be able to do anything for billiards in our country.
Thirdly, Messrs. Puyat and Mariano are not members of the BSCP. They have no business dictating what our rules should be, who our officers and directors should be, and what programs we should be undertaking. They can do that in their own association.
The issue of conflict of interest is a vital part of corporate governance and practice, and the law is clear. If Messrs. Puyat and Mariano really believe that they have an issue, they should go to the SEC instead of just talking about it in the media. #
by June Diokno
BSCP Spokesman and Program Director
25 July 2008
For the nth time, Mssrs. Aristeo Puyat and Perry Mariano are again raising the issues of fairness and conflict of interest against the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and its top officers in order to disrupt the program and events of BSCP and its partner organizations. Although these questions have been answered and disposed of in the past, the BSCP will restate again its position on these manufactured issues.
1.Fairness in BSCP?s Selection of Players for International Competition
Contrary to the claims of Mssrs. Puyat and Mariano, the BSCP maintains a strict selection and qualifying system for choosing players for international events organized and sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA) and Asian Pocket Billiards Union (APBU). Players are chosen according to the criteria of playing ability, current form, competition record, and, not least, capability to represent honorably our organization and our country.
It should be borne in mind that the spots in WPA and APBU events are granted to the BSCP by virtue of its membership in the APBU and WPA system, which we have diligently maintained for over two decades. As such the BSCP has full authority and control over the disposition or assignment of spots.
When certain players managed by Messrs. Puyat, Mariano and Jonathan Sy rejected the leadership and governance of the BSCP through a manifesto last February and proclaimed their allegiance to a rival association, the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP), they took themselves out of the BSCP selection system. Moreover, it is on the record, that these players declined invitations to participate in BSCP qualifiers for certain events, such as the World 8-Ball Championship in Fujairah, on the dubious grounds that henceforth the BMPAP would be conducting its own qualifiers and choosing Filipino players for international competition.
Later, when the BMPAP?s boast proved empty and the BSCP conducted its qualifiers without their players, the billiards managers loudly complained that the BSCP selection process was not fair and transparent. Their players should have been considered and given every chance to be selected. And they continue to complain up to now.
We say: the BMPAP players and managers cannot have it both ways. They cannot reject the BSCP as governing body for billiards in the country, and expect at the same time its support and patronage in international competition. They cannot boycott BSCP organized and sanctioned events and yet expect to be handed a free ride to international events.
The solution we offer is simple. Players who signed the manifesto against the BSCP can restore their standing with the association by writing to our organization and affirming their allegiance and support for the BSCP. Then they can be eligible again to join the selection system for international competition.
2. Conflict of Interest Issue
The conflict of interest issue that has been raised by Mssrs. Puyat and Mariano about Mr. Yen Makabenta?s being president of Raya Sports and chairman of BSCP has no basis in law and in fact. This is an old, old issue that has been answered before, and will again be dismissed in the same way.
First, the BSCP is a private association registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It has as members stakeholders in the billiards industry and community, which include players, businessmen, parlor owners, event promoters, managers, technical officials, aficionados and fans. Every full-fledged member who is qualified to vote is qualified to serve in the board of directors and the roster of officers. Mr. Makabenta is such a member.
Second, there is no contradiction or conflict between Mr. Makabenta?s company being engaged in sports promotions and his serving as chair for the BSCP, any more than there is a conflict for other officers who happen to be connected with businesses engaged in the billiards industry. To the contrary, the BSCP encourages all members to do everything they can to organize events and promote pool around the country and extends its help to them in doing so. This is the practice in international pool associations like the Billiards Congress of America, where the president of Brunswick Billiards is currently its president. Were we to disqualify members with business interests in our sport from serving our association, the BSCP would not be able to do anything for billiards in our country.
Thirdly, Messrs. Puyat and Mariano are not members of the BSCP. They have no business dictating what our rules should be, who our officers and directors should be, and what programs we should be undertaking. They can do that in their own association.
The issue of conflict of interest is a vital part of corporate governance and practice, and the law is clear. If Messrs. Puyat and Mariano really believe that they have an issue, they should go to the SEC instead of just talking about it in the media. #
