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Atty. Estenzo
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) Board Member & Legal Adviser, Attorney Baldomero C. Estenzo, who has withdraw himself as member of the BAP-SBP Board of Trustee for the simple reason that the present management of Manuel Pangilinan has no quorum to represent the BAP-SBP organization as provided in the Constitution & By-Laws of the Charter as stated in writing below: (January 14, 2010)
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LETTER TO FIBA DATED 20 JULY 2009 (Cong. Luis R. Villafuerte)
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Graham C. Lim (left) and Patrick Baumann (right)
Photo taken by Ramon "Bong" Boado
The sequence of our conversation last January 19, 2009
Between BAP SecGen Graham C. Lim and FIBA SecGen Patrick Baumann
Published on February 3, 2009
Here under are the contents of the correspondence.
“To recall, you made an apology before our talks. At first instance, it was something that I had to accept with a grain of salt since I still had doubts about your sincerity and real intention. My instincts told me that you were trying to lower my guard, if not convince me to stop criticizing you.
I opened up on two important matters – one was personal and the other regarding the Bangkok Agreement, of which were among the signatories.
I informed you of the various events that had transpired in 2005 when you unilaterally suspended the BAP. Back then, I said it was illegal. However, you refused to accept any explanation. Then again, your subsequent investigation showed that it was improper for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to have expelled the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) because it was politically motivated.
Still, you did not lift the suspension. I told you very frankly that your action was illegal and could result in the destruction of the BAP.
To refresh your memory, you sent to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) a letter dated August 30, 2005, which read as follows: "FIBA's conclusion is that the suspension was the appropriate means to react to the BAP's failure to comply with the agreement allegedly reached between the parties. On the other hand, though, FIBA's current conclusion is that the expulsion is inappropriate and out of proportion. In particular, it is not understandable why the new leadership of BAP in the person of its President Mr. Jose “Joey” Lina was not given sufficient time to adjust to the POC requirements after the suspension.
In fact, the sequence of events rather demonstrates that the suspension was a manoeuvre to reach the expulsion of the BAP and the integration of the opposing personalities under the PBFI. FIBA's opinion is that it is inappropriate to use basketball as a sport-political game between opposing sides.
As a consequence, FIBA cannot accept the POC's decision to remove one group in favor of another one. As a consequence of our position on the matter, it is impossible for FIBA to entertain your request for affiliation of the PBFI, dated July 29, 2005."
Your Memorandum of Understanding with the POC in September 2005 was another mistake. Why? That's because you yourself signed the MOA. That agreement cannot hold water legally since it was struck with a party that is not a FIBA member.
You should have protected the rights of the BAP as it has been a FIBA member since 1936. For why else are you being paid handsomely if you do not work for the benefit of a FIBA member? Why favor the POC when the POC is an organization that is not affiliated with the FIBA?
Your decision is ridiculous and stupid. Coming it is from a person who claims he's a lawyer makes it very hilarious.
In our conversation, you admitted that you made a mistake. And I told you that mistake can be rectified.
The time to rectify the error is NOW. And you better do something to bring back the BAP to the good graces of the FIBA. If not, then the fight continues.
I personally told you that I will be fighting until my last breath for what is right, fair and just. And you told me that I should instead wage my war against the POC. You yourself signed the MOA and started this whole problem. The BAP was the victim here.
A genuine leader does not pass the buck. The buck stops at your doorstep. It's only right that you yourself finish it NOW by renouncing the MOA.
Remember it was you who suspended the BAP in July 2005. The BAP's Christian Tan and Senator Joey Lina pleaded with you not to suspend the BAP but you hardheadedly decided to do only what pleased you, the POC and its cohort, the fledgling Pilipinas Basketball (or the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas), for financial and other considerations.
This is an act of betrayal and treason against the BAP. Somehow, you deserve all the brickbats that you are getting now for you are just reaping the whirlwind.
You claimed that you were simply pressuring the POC to reinstate the BAP. Yet, in the end, it was the BAP that has suffered a lot due to your gimmickry. And you now admit of wrongdoing.
The past is past, you now tell me. No, it is not. I say that what is happening today to the BAP is the consequence of your mistake.
If only in the past you had been the attentive person that you were when we talked in Kuala Lumpur recently, perhaps all these problems would have been avoided.
I cursed you so often because you never wanted to listen to our side and you even accused us of abusing the name FIBA. What right do you have to say that when the BAP has been associated with the FIBA since 1936.
Look at yourself in the mirror to see who is abusing the FIBA.
You are simply an employee of the FIBA. Your salary comes from the FIBA coffers. You are not – and will never ever be – the FIBA.
The BAP-SBP election on June 4, 2008 has all the elements of legitimacy. It was held in accordance to the Bangkok Agreement, which was struck on Feb. 4, 2007 with you as a signatory.
Elected were Congressman Luis Villafuerte and the Honorable Prospero Pichay as the BAP-SBP Chairman and President, respectively.
As a reminder, the POC had nothing to do – and will always have nothing to do – with the FIBA and the Bangkok Agreement.
The fraudulent election of moneyed businessman Manuel Pangilinan on June 12, 2008 has been exposed and basketball-loving Filipinos now are asking how much money changed hands between you and Pangilinan.
If, indeed, you were paid handsomely to recognize Pangilinan's bogus election, then you are really a shame to the FIBA family.
On the issue of the validation of membership in the BAP-SBP, the BAP faction controls the majority in the committee level and has 80 approved members eligible to vote for a new set of officials on the basis of the Bangkok Agreement.
To refresh your memory, the BAP-SBP legal counsel told you in a loud voice during the drafting of the Bangkok Agreement, "You are the cause of all these problems!" What a mess, remember!
The SBP faction is having its way these days only because they said that you are part of the devious scheme to recognize Pangilinan's election in exchange for marketing favor and financial considerations.
However, just don't expect the BAP to accept its fate without a fight. We demand justice and we are sure it will be served sometime in the future.
In a previous correspondence, the Philippines' athletic Chief Go Teng Kok sent you a strong-worded letter that accuses you of mismanagement of the FIBA and
enticement, expressing his utter disappointment and horror over the decision of the FIBA to unseat me from FIBA Youth Commission.
That letter was sent to you dated May 22, 2008. Mr. Go Teng Kok said: “"It is clear to me that Mr. Lim's relief was made on the say so of pseudo-Filipino basketball leaders who grovel to FIBA to preserve business interests rather than the pristine welfare of the sport. The absence of due process in this instant case diminishes if not eradicate the hope of fair play which is the heart of our involvement in sports.
To think that this is how FIBA, one of the largest sports organizations, resolves issues even makes it more unpalatable."
“It is imperative of you to rectify now the mistakes you have committed. Otherwise, I have every reason to doubt your sincerity.
And in case you want to know beforehand, we may file a case against the FIBA in the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) if that is the only way to obtain justice.
It is really up to you if you want to further drag the FIBA down the river because of your incompetence and lack of fair play.
We will also be plotting other courses of action in the future if you don't mend your ways and recognize the results of the June 4, 2008 election.
During our talks in Kuala Lumpur, I ask you this candid question – Are you a Christian? You didn't answer immediately. Then I said you must be a Christian.
For no matter how good or bad a person has been, I believe there's some goodness in everyone's heart.”
Yet I wondered aloud why all these years you refused to listen or communicate with the BAP. I begged you a number of times through letters, but each time you did not answer. Even when we bumped to each other in some FIBA events, you ignored me.
I asked you why your heart is so hardened, why you are lacking in compassion. Begging is not my really my style. But being a practicing Christian, I know how to humble myself.
In your worst and most irritating act of all, you even disregarded the resolution approved by the FIBA Asia Congress to lift the suspension of BAP during a June 2006 meeting held in Kuwait. Despite the endorsement by the FIBA Asia Congress, you still did not take up the issue during the FIBA World Congress.
Instead, you accommodated the representatives of the POC and Pilipinas Basketball, both of which were never part of the FIBA family. As anyone could tell, you never had the intention to respect the advice of the FIBA Asia Congress advised and instead went on to make your own ill-willed judgment to disrespect the members of FIBA Asia.
Think about your actions. We will never accept your authoritarian rule and that is why I got so many supporters and admirers from all over the world for what I am fighting for – that is to stop your abuse of power and tyrannical rule in the FIBA.
Shamelessly, you tried to stop me from entering China and asked the Chinese government not to issue a visa to me. But till now, you continue to deny this accusation of mine. It's regrettable for you to hypocritically say that this information came directly from the Chinese government. This is another human rights violation.
Of course, I don't believe you at all. But then again, I am comforted by the dictum that liars and cheaters often go together.
You even tried to kick me out as a member of the FIBA Asia Executive Committee. Again, you issued a denial. And again, I say that I don't believe you.
When you put me to shame by dismissing me from the FIBA Youth Commission, I asked you, a lawyer, to respect the universal law of due process and give me my day in court. You accused me of being a troublemaker yet you never gave me a copy of the complaint, if any, and mention who my accusers were, again if any.
Before that, you even mailed a letter to the then-BAP-SBP executive director informing him that you are going to deal with me. The nerve of you to say that, Patrick! And like a scorned woman, the next thing you did was to unilaterally remove me from the FIBA Youth Commission.
You are really a heartless person and disrespectful of human rights. Decency dictates that I know beforehand the charges against me. But you chose to try me through publicity and expose me to public ridicule because of the write-ups in the local media.
During our talks in Kuala Lumpur, you once again denied these things really happened. At this point, I would have wanted to end our conversation because you, being Mr. Denial, was just wasting my time and becoming an unbearable nuisance.
I accused you of being a racist because you cracked a joke at my expense, of my being a Chinese (what's wrong with being a Chinese anyway?), during a visit to Geneva in November 2007 for a FIBA Youth Commission meeting, you said you had forgotten the joke, perhaps then I should refresh your memory. During my arrival in the meeting, you shamed me in front of many people by making fun of my being a Chinese with a questionable document.
Again, you denied this issue. If that were the case, how would I take your apology then?
The Manuel Pangilinan group wants to change the name "BAP-SBP" to "SBP" only. They have already sent you a letter notifying its intention to change the name. However, until now, you continue to deny this information. Despite your innocent looks, I know you are lying.
I already knew that you already had made an arrangement with Noli Eala to recognize just the SBP, and not the BAP-SBP.
I know that you and Eala are in good terms. I'd like to believe that birds of the same feather flock together. Eala, of course, is a disbarred lawyer who has been convicted by the Philippine Supreme Court for cohabiting with another man’s wife.
During the signing of the Bangkok Agreement, Eala was described by Hagop Khajirian (the FIBA Asia marketing guy) as a "snake."
I and sure you know by heart what despicable marketing fraud that Eala had committed during the 16th FIBA Asia Champions Cup when he failed to fulfill his guarantee of a US$50,000 payment to the FIBA Asia marketing group. As the host of the Champions Cup, the BAP suffered losses amounting to several million pesos.
Despite this tragedy of Eala's making, the BAP did not gain any compassion from FIBA Asia even if it did its best to provide FIBA Asia every opportunity to make thousands of dollars through its television and marketing revenues. It was a clear conspiracy between the POC and Eala to leave us behind with less than 10 days remaining before the opening of the 16th FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2005.
I know that Eala, who represents Pangilinan, is the person dealing with you insofar as FIBA marketing is concerned. Make sure nobody gets to know any shady deals you may be concocting.
Just remember the alleged marketing fraud that involved a Japanese company, which paid marketing rights in the amount of more than six million dollars. Those privileged to have knowledge of the deal provided us with the information.
Somebody reportedly had a "blue book" that contained every detail of the transaction and shared the information with other people. I think that under the Swiss tax system, this may constitute money laundering since the actual amount going to the FIBA account was not truthfully stated.
That's not to mention the poor marketing scheme that suffered losses of more than 10 million dollars in 2000 and 2001, a financial debacle which, until today, has not been fully explained to the satisfaction of everyone in the FIBA family.
An inside source has informed me that you intend to file a court case against me. I expect you to deny this again. I say, go ahead, file a case and make my day.
I am not afraid of going to jail. From there, I can continue with my crusade for what is right, fair and just. Moreover, I have been sent to prison once before, in March 2006 to be exact. At the time, someone told you of the incident but you thought it was just made up.
Now, you better believe this – I am prepared to go back to jail and I will continue to expose all your wrongdoings.
So may God help enlighten you!
We also talked about our kids and respective families in the final minutes of our meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
I told you I would stop my criticism against you because it would also hurt your family, especially the kids. That I told you even if you have hurt my family and I in the past. As I said, I am a practicing Christian and vengeance is not in my vocabulary.
The only thing I ask of you is that you seriously re-study and respect the Bangkok Agreement that you witnessed and signed on February 4, 2007.
In your letter to the BAP-SBP dated May 13, 2008, you even stated the following: "To avoid entering into internal political debates typical for an electoral year, but to continuously support the federation in its effort to comply with the approved By-Laws of BAP-SBP. As a consequence, we agree that it is up to the statutorily constituted Nomination and Membership Committee of BAP-SBP to validate the members after the transitory period caused by the merger, based on the Validation Rules properly approved in the meantime."
In parting, I advise you, my friend and my foe, to look closely into the contents of the Bangkok Agreement and do not mislead us all with your lousy law practice as even a grade school student can understand easily what was written in that agreement.
I am optimistic that the issue of the BAP-SBP leadership will be reviewed at the soonest time (one-month period). Officials of FIBA Asia have said that the Bangkok Agreement was not respected and they plan to resolve this matter as well. (Papers regarding the court case were sent to your room while you were still in Kuala Lumpur.)
I will stop criticizing you at this time, but you have to do your part to rectify the mistakes you have made insofar as the BAP-SBP leadership is concerned.
By the way, I have accepted the offer from Dato' Yeoh Choo Hock (FIBA Asia Secretary General) to be reinstated to FIBA Youth Commission again and I should know that this offer came from one of your inner circle. I will wait for your official confirmation and hope this is not a hoax. This will be a real test of your sincerity.
I did tell you that you might yet become a good person if only you are truthful to yourself and your family.
Take the path that leads to goodness, fairness and righteousness and you will never regret it.
Yours truly,
Graham C. Lim
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
Between BAP SecGen Graham C. Lim and FIBA SecGen Patrick Baumann
Published on February 3, 2009
Here under are the contents of the correspondence.
“To recall, you made an apology before our talks. At first instance, it was something that I had to accept with a grain of salt since I still had doubts about your sincerity and real intention. My instincts told me that you were trying to lower my guard, if not convince me to stop criticizing you.
I opened up on two important matters – one was personal and the other regarding the Bangkok Agreement, of which were among the signatories.
I informed you of the various events that had transpired in 2005 when you unilaterally suspended the BAP. Back then, I said it was illegal. However, you refused to accept any explanation. Then again, your subsequent investigation showed that it was improper for the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to have expelled the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) because it was politically motivated.
Still, you did not lift the suspension. I told you very frankly that your action was illegal and could result in the destruction of the BAP.
To refresh your memory, you sent to Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) a letter dated August 30, 2005, which read as follows: "FIBA's conclusion is that the suspension was the appropriate means to react to the BAP's failure to comply with the agreement allegedly reached between the parties. On the other hand, though, FIBA's current conclusion is that the expulsion is inappropriate and out of proportion. In particular, it is not understandable why the new leadership of BAP in the person of its President Mr. Jose “Joey” Lina was not given sufficient time to adjust to the POC requirements after the suspension.
In fact, the sequence of events rather demonstrates that the suspension was a manoeuvre to reach the expulsion of the BAP and the integration of the opposing personalities under the PBFI. FIBA's opinion is that it is inappropriate to use basketball as a sport-political game between opposing sides.
As a consequence, FIBA cannot accept the POC's decision to remove one group in favor of another one. As a consequence of our position on the matter, it is impossible for FIBA to entertain your request for affiliation of the PBFI, dated July 29, 2005."
Your Memorandum of Understanding with the POC in September 2005 was another mistake. Why? That's because you yourself signed the MOA. That agreement cannot hold water legally since it was struck with a party that is not a FIBA member.
You should have protected the rights of the BAP as it has been a FIBA member since 1936. For why else are you being paid handsomely if you do not work for the benefit of a FIBA member? Why favor the POC when the POC is an organization that is not affiliated with the FIBA?
Your decision is ridiculous and stupid. Coming it is from a person who claims he's a lawyer makes it very hilarious.
In our conversation, you admitted that you made a mistake. And I told you that mistake can be rectified.
The time to rectify the error is NOW. And you better do something to bring back the BAP to the good graces of the FIBA. If not, then the fight continues.
I personally told you that I will be fighting until my last breath for what is right, fair and just. And you told me that I should instead wage my war against the POC. You yourself signed the MOA and started this whole problem. The BAP was the victim here.
A genuine leader does not pass the buck. The buck stops at your doorstep. It's only right that you yourself finish it NOW by renouncing the MOA.
Remember it was you who suspended the BAP in July 2005. The BAP's Christian Tan and Senator Joey Lina pleaded with you not to suspend the BAP but you hardheadedly decided to do only what pleased you, the POC and its cohort, the fledgling Pilipinas Basketball (or the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas), for financial and other considerations.
This is an act of betrayal and treason against the BAP. Somehow, you deserve all the brickbats that you are getting now for you are just reaping the whirlwind.
You claimed that you were simply pressuring the POC to reinstate the BAP. Yet, in the end, it was the BAP that has suffered a lot due to your gimmickry. And you now admit of wrongdoing.
The past is past, you now tell me. No, it is not. I say that what is happening today to the BAP is the consequence of your mistake.
If only in the past you had been the attentive person that you were when we talked in Kuala Lumpur recently, perhaps all these problems would have been avoided.
I cursed you so often because you never wanted to listen to our side and you even accused us of abusing the name FIBA. What right do you have to say that when the BAP has been associated with the FIBA since 1936.
Look at yourself in the mirror to see who is abusing the FIBA.
You are simply an employee of the FIBA. Your salary comes from the FIBA coffers. You are not – and will never ever be – the FIBA.
The BAP-SBP election on June 4, 2008 has all the elements of legitimacy. It was held in accordance to the Bangkok Agreement, which was struck on Feb. 4, 2007 with you as a signatory.
Elected were Congressman Luis Villafuerte and the Honorable Prospero Pichay as the BAP-SBP Chairman and President, respectively.
As a reminder, the POC had nothing to do – and will always have nothing to do – with the FIBA and the Bangkok Agreement.
The fraudulent election of moneyed businessman Manuel Pangilinan on June 12, 2008 has been exposed and basketball-loving Filipinos now are asking how much money changed hands between you and Pangilinan.
If, indeed, you were paid handsomely to recognize Pangilinan's bogus election, then you are really a shame to the FIBA family.
On the issue of the validation of membership in the BAP-SBP, the BAP faction controls the majority in the committee level and has 80 approved members eligible to vote for a new set of officials on the basis of the Bangkok Agreement.
To refresh your memory, the BAP-SBP legal counsel told you in a loud voice during the drafting of the Bangkok Agreement, "You are the cause of all these problems!" What a mess, remember!
The SBP faction is having its way these days only because they said that you are part of the devious scheme to recognize Pangilinan's election in exchange for marketing favor and financial considerations.
However, just don't expect the BAP to accept its fate without a fight. We demand justice and we are sure it will be served sometime in the future.
In a previous correspondence, the Philippines' athletic Chief Go Teng Kok sent you a strong-worded letter that accuses you of mismanagement of the FIBA and
enticement, expressing his utter disappointment and horror over the decision of the FIBA to unseat me from FIBA Youth Commission.
That letter was sent to you dated May 22, 2008. Mr. Go Teng Kok said: “"It is clear to me that Mr. Lim's relief was made on the say so of pseudo-Filipino basketball leaders who grovel to FIBA to preserve business interests rather than the pristine welfare of the sport. The absence of due process in this instant case diminishes if not eradicate the hope of fair play which is the heart of our involvement in sports.
To think that this is how FIBA, one of the largest sports organizations, resolves issues even makes it more unpalatable."
“It is imperative of you to rectify now the mistakes you have committed. Otherwise, I have every reason to doubt your sincerity.
And in case you want to know beforehand, we may file a case against the FIBA in the Court of Arbitration in Sports (CAS) if that is the only way to obtain justice.
It is really up to you if you want to further drag the FIBA down the river because of your incompetence and lack of fair play.
We will also be plotting other courses of action in the future if you don't mend your ways and recognize the results of the June 4, 2008 election.
During our talks in Kuala Lumpur, I ask you this candid question – Are you a Christian? You didn't answer immediately. Then I said you must be a Christian.
For no matter how good or bad a person has been, I believe there's some goodness in everyone's heart.”
Yet I wondered aloud why all these years you refused to listen or communicate with the BAP. I begged you a number of times through letters, but each time you did not answer. Even when we bumped to each other in some FIBA events, you ignored me.
I asked you why your heart is so hardened, why you are lacking in compassion. Begging is not my really my style. But being a practicing Christian, I know how to humble myself.
In your worst and most irritating act of all, you even disregarded the resolution approved by the FIBA Asia Congress to lift the suspension of BAP during a June 2006 meeting held in Kuwait. Despite the endorsement by the FIBA Asia Congress, you still did not take up the issue during the FIBA World Congress.
Instead, you accommodated the representatives of the POC and Pilipinas Basketball, both of which were never part of the FIBA family. As anyone could tell, you never had the intention to respect the advice of the FIBA Asia Congress advised and instead went on to make your own ill-willed judgment to disrespect the members of FIBA Asia.
Think about your actions. We will never accept your authoritarian rule and that is why I got so many supporters and admirers from all over the world for what I am fighting for – that is to stop your abuse of power and tyrannical rule in the FIBA.
Shamelessly, you tried to stop me from entering China and asked the Chinese government not to issue a visa to me. But till now, you continue to deny this accusation of mine. It's regrettable for you to hypocritically say that this information came directly from the Chinese government. This is another human rights violation.
Of course, I don't believe you at all. But then again, I am comforted by the dictum that liars and cheaters often go together.
You even tried to kick me out as a member of the FIBA Asia Executive Committee. Again, you issued a denial. And again, I say that I don't believe you.
When you put me to shame by dismissing me from the FIBA Youth Commission, I asked you, a lawyer, to respect the universal law of due process and give me my day in court. You accused me of being a troublemaker yet you never gave me a copy of the complaint, if any, and mention who my accusers were, again if any.
Before that, you even mailed a letter to the then-BAP-SBP executive director informing him that you are going to deal with me. The nerve of you to say that, Patrick! And like a scorned woman, the next thing you did was to unilaterally remove me from the FIBA Youth Commission.
You are really a heartless person and disrespectful of human rights. Decency dictates that I know beforehand the charges against me. But you chose to try me through publicity and expose me to public ridicule because of the write-ups in the local media.
During our talks in Kuala Lumpur, you once again denied these things really happened. At this point, I would have wanted to end our conversation because you, being Mr. Denial, was just wasting my time and becoming an unbearable nuisance.
I accused you of being a racist because you cracked a joke at my expense, of my being a Chinese (what's wrong with being a Chinese anyway?), during a visit to Geneva in November 2007 for a FIBA Youth Commission meeting, you said you had forgotten the joke, perhaps then I should refresh your memory. During my arrival in the meeting, you shamed me in front of many people by making fun of my being a Chinese with a questionable document.
Again, you denied this issue. If that were the case, how would I take your apology then?
The Manuel Pangilinan group wants to change the name "BAP-SBP" to "SBP" only. They have already sent you a letter notifying its intention to change the name. However, until now, you continue to deny this information. Despite your innocent looks, I know you are lying.
I already knew that you already had made an arrangement with Noli Eala to recognize just the SBP, and not the BAP-SBP.
I know that you and Eala are in good terms. I'd like to believe that birds of the same feather flock together. Eala, of course, is a disbarred lawyer who has been convicted by the Philippine Supreme Court for cohabiting with another man’s wife.
During the signing of the Bangkok Agreement, Eala was described by Hagop Khajirian (the FIBA Asia marketing guy) as a "snake."
I and sure you know by heart what despicable marketing fraud that Eala had committed during the 16th FIBA Asia Champions Cup when he failed to fulfill his guarantee of a US$50,000 payment to the FIBA Asia marketing group. As the host of the Champions Cup, the BAP suffered losses amounting to several million pesos.
Despite this tragedy of Eala's making, the BAP did not gain any compassion from FIBA Asia even if it did its best to provide FIBA Asia every opportunity to make thousands of dollars through its television and marketing revenues. It was a clear conspiracy between the POC and Eala to leave us behind with less than 10 days remaining before the opening of the 16th FIBA Asia Champions Cup in 2005.
I know that Eala, who represents Pangilinan, is the person dealing with you insofar as FIBA marketing is concerned. Make sure nobody gets to know any shady deals you may be concocting.
Just remember the alleged marketing fraud that involved a Japanese company, which paid marketing rights in the amount of more than six million dollars. Those privileged to have knowledge of the deal provided us with the information.
Somebody reportedly had a "blue book" that contained every detail of the transaction and shared the information with other people. I think that under the Swiss tax system, this may constitute money laundering since the actual amount going to the FIBA account was not truthfully stated.
That's not to mention the poor marketing scheme that suffered losses of more than 10 million dollars in 2000 and 2001, a financial debacle which, until today, has not been fully explained to the satisfaction of everyone in the FIBA family.
An inside source has informed me that you intend to file a court case against me. I expect you to deny this again. I say, go ahead, file a case and make my day.
I am not afraid of going to jail. From there, I can continue with my crusade for what is right, fair and just. Moreover, I have been sent to prison once before, in March 2006 to be exact. At the time, someone told you of the incident but you thought it was just made up.
Now, you better believe this – I am prepared to go back to jail and I will continue to expose all your wrongdoings.
So may God help enlighten you!
We also talked about our kids and respective families in the final minutes of our meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
I told you I would stop my criticism against you because it would also hurt your family, especially the kids. That I told you even if you have hurt my family and I in the past. As I said, I am a practicing Christian and vengeance is not in my vocabulary.
The only thing I ask of you is that you seriously re-study and respect the Bangkok Agreement that you witnessed and signed on February 4, 2007.
In your letter to the BAP-SBP dated May 13, 2008, you even stated the following: "To avoid entering into internal political debates typical for an electoral year, but to continuously support the federation in its effort to comply with the approved By-Laws of BAP-SBP. As a consequence, we agree that it is up to the statutorily constituted Nomination and Membership Committee of BAP-SBP to validate the members after the transitory period caused by the merger, based on the Validation Rules properly approved in the meantime."
In parting, I advise you, my friend and my foe, to look closely into the contents of the Bangkok Agreement and do not mislead us all with your lousy law practice as even a grade school student can understand easily what was written in that agreement.
I am optimistic that the issue of the BAP-SBP leadership will be reviewed at the soonest time (one-month period). Officials of FIBA Asia have said that the Bangkok Agreement was not respected and they plan to resolve this matter as well. (Papers regarding the court case were sent to your room while you were still in Kuala Lumpur.)
I will stop criticizing you at this time, but you have to do your part to rectify the mistakes you have made insofar as the BAP-SBP leadership is concerned.
By the way, I have accepted the offer from Dato' Yeoh Choo Hock (FIBA Asia Secretary General) to be reinstated to FIBA Youth Commission again and I should know that this offer came from one of your inner circle. I will wait for your official confirmation and hope this is not a hoax. This will be a real test of your sincerity.
I did tell you that you might yet become a good person if only you are truthful to yourself and your family.
Take the path that leads to goodness, fairness and righteousness and you will never regret it.
Yours truly,
Graham C. Lim
Secretary General
Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP)
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