APEKTADO ang pagpapalabas ng monthly allowances hindi lamang ng mga atleta bagkus ang buwanang suweldo ng mga empleyadong ‘casuals’ dahil sa ginawang pagbabago sa ‘payroll administration system’.

Ito ang tinuran ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) sa opisyal na pahayag na ibinigay sa media outfit nitong Linggo – isang araw matapos kalampagin ni Senator Bong Go ang ahensiya hingil sa hinaing ng mga atleta at coach na delay ang kanilang mga allowances.

Humingi ng paumanhin ang pamunuan ng ahensiya sa mga apektadong atleta at coaches.

Romualdez, pinasalamatan tennis player na si Alex Eala

Nauna rito, nagdesisyon ang PSC na kaltasan ang buwanang allowances ng mga miyembro ng National Team bunsod nang kabawasan sa ibinigay ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGOCOR) dulot nang mababang income dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic mula nitong Marso.

“The PSC Board thanks Senator Bong Go for once again showing his sincere concern for sports and the Filipino athlete. We appreciate the support and guidance you have been giving the sports community.

“The delay in the release of allowances was caused by the overhaul of our payroll administration system. It affected all employees and members of the national team. This was a painful but necessary action to ensure that no underhanded schemes are ever done in this service aspect again. In the wake of that sad discovery of a payroll padding scam by an employee, our agency while rocked to its core, was also roused to further strengthen our processes at all fronts. This is a commitment we gave, and one which we immediately went to work to achieve and deliver,” pahayag ng PSC.

Sa pakikipagtulungan sa LandBank at National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) nabulgar ang ‘payroll padding’ na ginagawa ng isang PSC employee. Nadakip ang naturang suspect, ngunit nakalaya matapos makapagpiyansa ng P2 milyon. Sa datos ng NBI, nakulimbat ng suspect ang mahigit P14 milyon sa nakalipas na limang taon. Wala nang ibang suspect o kasanggot na naisabit sa anomalya.

“We apologize for the slight delay in the posting of allowances but rest assured that these will be released by early this week as we have finalized the necessary requirements for the effect of this batch’s posting under the new system. Per report of Executive Director Atty. Guillermo B Iroy, Jr, these will be deposited to Landbank by Monday.

“We are also calling on national sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and reporting on the training and activities of the athletes under their supervision and to religiously submit as these are requirements in the processing of monthly allowances.

“Your PSC Board and family continue to work for the interest of Philippine sports and in the service of Filipino athletes,” ayon sa pahayag.