The National Bureau of Investigation has filed cases of malversation against Philippine Karatedo Federation official Raymund Lee Reyes before the Prosecutors Office of the City of Manila.
Lead agent Moises Tamayo has informed the Philippine Sports Commission of their actions, some 10 months after members of the national karatedo team underwent a 20-day training stint in Germany in 2017 July.
Six members of the national squad were prominently involved in the case of malversation of public funds and property against Reyes. They reported that they did not fully receive their allowances during the trip.
“Trinabaho natin ito, ang pagfile ng kaso. It’s now with the courts. Let’s leave it to the courts,” said commissioner Ramon Fernandez, who has been closely following the case.
The NBI and a five-man task force formed by the PSC have been doing separate probes into the case since January.
During the probe, the agency suspended financial assistance to the PKF and withdrew its privilege of holding office within the premises of the Philsports Complex in Pasig City.
The separate probes questioned athletes, coaches and PKF officials to find out what happened to funds amounting to around P3.217-million.
Among those who charged Reyes were karatedo athletes Eugene Stoner, John Paul Bejar, Miyuki Tacay, Jayson Macaalay and James de los Santos.
The money was supposed to be spent for the seminars and tournaments joined, accommodations, meals and allowances among other things, while the national squad was in Germany from July 20 to Aug. 9.
The agency began investigating the PKF after learning from karatedo athletes that they did not get the full $1,800 allowance that they were supposed to get from the trip.
The probe was done to determine inconsistencies upon the submission of a liquidation report from Reyes, who was the secretary general at that time.
Questions were raised when the PKF issued bills of less than $85 when athletes stayed at the Budo Center Kelkheim and at the Topaz Karate.
Probers also took a look at the liquidation report when the national squad was in Frankfurt, Germany, in the Netherlands and in Belgium.
The PSC approved a budget for the use of vans for transportation, amounting to $2,800. But it was learned that most of the athletes used public transportation to go to their dojos.
They also learned that the medical care of karatedo Kimberly Madrona went unreported after she bumped her head during training.
Despite the suspension of financial assistance to the NSAs, the PSC still continued its support to the national karatedo athletes.
The agency is crafting new guidelines and policies on how financial assistance will be issued. The PSC is reviewing its present policies, rules and regulations and guidelines on financial assistance.
