Friday, March 30, 2012

PIDC Controversy: Rosemer Enverga Hints at 'Legal Action'




PHILIPPINE VILLAGE VOICE/The Filipino Web Channel - Redefining Community News
Currents & Breaking News 
Volume 6, Issue No. 15
/ News That Fears None, Views That Favor Nobody /

. . . . . A community service of The Filipino Web Channel (TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com) and the Philippine Village Voice (PhilVoiceNews@gmail.com) for the information and understanding of Filipinos and the diverse communities in North America . . . . . .



 The News UpFront: (TOP STORY) as of Friday, March 30, 2012


~ A press conference where officials promised transparency two weeks ago has kicked off a dust of controversy as calls are made to open the books on the community's biggest money-making ventures. "The cat is out of the bag," some wags say now. That remark testifies to the Fort Knox-mentality that had shrouded the financial situation of the not-for-profit Philippine Independence Day Council.


 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  


PIDC CONTROVERSY
Rosemer Enverga Hints at 'Legal Action'

By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ


Member, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA)

and National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada (NEPMCC)


TORONTO - A former official of the Filipino community's top organization has admitted that it was a "serious matter" to be dragged into a controversy involving funds and the running of beauty pageants, traditionally rich sources of revenues for cash-strapped charities.

"Any allegations can be a basis for a legal action," says Rosemer Enverga, the erstwhile chair of three beauty contests under the aegis of the Philippine Independence Day Council (PIDC), the non-profit umbrella with claimed membership of nearly 300 associations.

She was reacting to a public statement by Minda Neri, PIDC's immediate past president, that PIDC "never had a proper accounting from her (Enverga)" when she left PIDC last year and formed her own group that also has a beauty pageant component.

Latest attempts to seek clarifications from Enverga proved futile as she did not reply to questions to put the issue to rest. Instead, she referred the matter to the PIDC treasurer last year, Al Tupe.

"Al Tupe will confirm as per our telephone conversation x x x that all financial documents were submitted to him and had no problems whatsoever in procuring what he needed from me to complete the reports," Enverga states.

But there was not any word from Tupe from that time Enverga said he would communicate.


"Minda (Neri) should be communicating with Al (Tupe) before making any allegations because this is a serious matter and can be a basis for a legal action," she adds.

Whether or not that statement is a hint that she would seek legal redress or a warning to stop the flow of stories is not exactly clear. In the meantime, she found an audience to ventilate her disappointment.


Upset by an earlier story, Enverga was reported to have "cried" at a recent birthday gathering attended by the local chapter of the Knights of Rizal where her husband, Tobias "Jun" Enverga, is a ranking member. He also happens to be an elected trustee of the 12-member Toronto Catholic District School Board representing Scarborough ward.
 
An eyewitness account published in the e-group of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) in Toronto stated that the Enverga couple - who are not UPAA members - "shared their concern with us UPians" and "spoiled" the birthday bash of a member.

“ 'The publication of this controversy, which happened two years ago, is very unfair,' Rosemer and husband Jun Enverga, who is an elected School Board Trustee, lamented," wrote a certain Livvy Camacho in the e-group. 

The couple's reaction was the first and only public feedback since questions involving PIDC funds arose two weeks ago.

It was Tess Cusipag, publisher and editor of Balita newspaper, who posted the story written by this reporter with the headline: "WAS THERE WRONG-DOING? PIDC in a Bind: To Pursue or Not  Alleged Purse-Holder". (News video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFvfAV26CIQ&feature=channel)

"We are doing this to our community not to glorify or destroy anybody but for the information of everyone," Cusipag stresses in defending her action. "If there was no controversy about money or anything then there is nothing to worry about".

Camacho is apparently a friend of the Envergas, and even advocated allowing them to rebut the published story in what was supposedly an e-group limited to UPAA members only. 

In fact, Camacho, on the pretext of a "level playing field", posted Ms. Enverga's reply, to wit: "I do not understand why the editor of Balita, Ms Tess Cusipag, is bringing up this issue to the UPAA Group. All financial affairs of the pageants under my responsibility were reviewed and validated by the PDIC treasurer, Al Tupe, and there have been no questions raised until this time - 2 years later. I am sure we can be a more cohesive community without smearing the good name of those who serve voluntarily and dedicate themselves in the service of the community." 

To this, Cusipag responded: "All they (the Envergas) had to do is to prove that there was no wrongdoing, but to approach the people and get sympathy to the point that we are being blamed for it then you are harbouring a culprit".

"We are going to scrutinize like anything that we have done before till the culprit produces the necessary paperwork that will clear their names," Cusipag added, explaining that the newspaper, which used to be run by husband Ruben, now retired, is an advocate for transparency.

"It is better if there is a legal case so there is an examination for discovery," Cusipag emphasizes. "By then she will be forced to present all documents rather than ignoring all of us".

Camacho's posting of Enverga's message also drew a rejoinder from another UPAA member, Joe Rivera, who complained, thus: "I don't know why you (referring to Camacho) are bringing up the idea of giving everyone a level playing field when posting in this forum. This is already given, not just an assumption, but a reality since  this forum is in cyberspace and virtually shared with everyone.

 "Just because Tess Cusipag has access to this forum and Rosemer Enverga does not have doesn't mean there is an 'imbalance of power of access.' Even your concept of 'balance of power' is nebulous to me". 

Rivera continued: "Why complain about the PIDC posting in our forum as if this really matters to our membership? They can have access just the same, through your generosity of giving them space so their side can be heard, which you actually did".

When confronted in an email why questions are being raised now, or two years after the fact, Ms. Enverga did not respond.

This reporter told her that the main reason, as culled from interviews, was that she had stonewalled on the issue. The reports she claims she had submitted were piecemeal and incomplete, according to those asked to shed light on the matter but would not want to be identified.

The mini-controversy generated by the e-group postings has distracted from the main issue, which was the alleged incomplete reporting of financial matters by Ms. Enverga.

Neri has already highlighted the helplessness of the PIDC in getting financial documents from her to the point of resorting to legal remedies. That has not materialized because of what Neri said was lack of time and money.

"We have a decision not to pursue during my term anyways because there's so much work to do and we need that money to spend on our activities. If in the future we will have extra money, it would be Norma's (Carpio) decision whether she would pursue. But right now, no," Neri stated at a press conference on March 14.

Reached for comment, Carpio does not appear poise to pursue the issue at this time because of hectic preparations for the upcoming Mabuhay Festival in June. #



(This Currents & Breaking News may be posted online, broadcast or reprinted upon request by interested parties. Permission by the author or the editor must be obtained before any re-posting online or re-publication in print or re-broadcast. Copyright by Romeo P. Marquez, Editor, Philippine Village Voice, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Volume 6, Issue no. 15, March 30, 2012. Email at: TheFilipinoWebChannel@gmail.com,  PhilVoiceNews@aol.com or CurrentsBreakingNews@gmail.com).







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