|
PUREFOODS’ Rene Pardo will formalize today his
resignation as chairman of the ethics committee of the Philippine
Basketball Association.
Pardo, signified his intention to
quit from the committee as an offshoot of Commissioner Sonny
Barrios’ suspension on ace shooter James Yap that enabled
rival Sta. Lucia Realty to score an 88-76 victory for a commanding
3-2 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.
“Yes, wala nang atrasan
ito.[There is no turning back]. I will be submitting tomorrow my
resignation letter to make everything official, “ the soft-spoken
Pardo told Manila Times in a telephone interview yesterday.
He said he is elevating Yap’s
case to the board of governors.
“Pag inakyat ko sa board ito,
the case might be reverted back to the ethics committee so if I will
still be its chairman, medyo may conflict of interest. So, the
proper thing to do, I guess, is to resign,” he said.
Barrios upgraded Yap’s flagrant
foul penalty 1 to penalty 2 that merited a one-game suspension and a
fine of P20,000 on the eve of Game 4, which Purefoods won to level
the series, 2-2. A flagrant foul penalty 1 does not carry
suspension, according to the rules.
What irked the ire of the
management, not only of Purefoods, but also of mother company
San Miguel Corp. was the decision to elevate the penalty to one rank
stiffer was made after a luncheon meeting between Barrios and Sta.
Lucia team owner Exequiel Robles
“The management is really mad
with the upgrading of Yap’s penalty. From Ambassador Danding [SMC
Chairman Eduardo Cojuangco] to Mr. Ang [SMC President Ramon Ang] to
Purefoods president Butch Alejo,” Pardo disclosed although he was
quick to add that the decision to resign was his alone.
Pardo said the case should not
end after Yap had served his suspension as he vowed to exhaust all
means to get into the bottom of the controversy.
“This is beyond the series.
Kahit na anong mangyari sa series, we have to do something to
prevent this thing from happening again in the future,” he
reasoned out.
“This will take a precedent
that when cases like that happen, how can we stop someone to bring
them to the office of the commissioner? He will have his hands full
solving them.”
--Eddie G. Alinea
|
