Volume 3, Issue No. 8
OPINION/COMMENTARY
/ 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 . . . . . .
Our latest as of Monday, October 18, 2021
~ Flush with enormous cash it had never seen in its 20-year life, the Filipino Centre Toronto appears ready to slug it out in court to keep critical information to itself than give in to widespread demands for an independent audit of its finances. That's how it looks so far. Through a lawyer, the non-profit has responded for the first time to questions from a community writer while vowing to defend the organization from scurrilous attacks. A new revelation claimed payments to lawyers have reached at least one-fifth of a million dollars.
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TORONTO'S MULTI-MILLIONAIRE NON-PROFIT
Writer Alleges Runaway Spending at FCT
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
“Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.” - Brian Tracy
Prior to the publication, a lawyer has warned that FCT will defend its reputation from "ill-informed and scurrilous attacks". (Related stories at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/search?q=filipino+centre+toronto).
The author of the article, Cress Vasquez, responded: "Any veiled threat would not deter responsible journalism".
The exchange between the writer and the FCT lawyer is the latest to come out of the years-long controversy over FCT's reluctance to submit to an independent audit - not a review preferred by FCT - of its finances demanded by members and whistleblowers. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFXKzvQqYY).
Of particular interest to the membership is how FCT officials led by its president Mary Ann San Juan and chair Efren de Villa are disbursing funds from the proceeds of the $5.9 million sale of its old building, and an unexpected avalanche of monetary claims soon after it was concluded.
The lawyer, identified in Vasquez's article as Mark Donald, has stressed that "details of the FCT's financial status are disclosable to members of the organization only". (Full story at: https://www.atinitonews.com/2021/10/legal-sources-say-500k-paid-to-couple-likely-violated-fct-constitution/).
He claimed in his reply to Vasquez that FCT "has made full and forthright disclosure to its membership regarding the payments" Vasquez had described.
Donald, according to Vasquez, is a libel lawyer chosen by San Juan during her "lawyer-shopping" spree. FCT's other counsel, Ramon Andal, apparently remains in the fold. (Related story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2020/12/fct-tries-to-be-funny-amidst-pandemic.html).
In his article, Vasquez raised a new issue involving monetary awards totaling "$546,296 to three individuals for alleged unpaid salaries and allowances in 2016 and 10 years back" for which, he claimed, members and the board of directors had no knowledge.
It is not clear if the amount - $546,296 - is part of, or entirely separate from, what had been previously disclosed, which is $678,000.
The $678,000 went to pay claimants in 2017, namely: "Vicki" (Dr. Victoria Santiago) - $300,000; "RCJ" (Rosalinda C. Javier) - $96,000; "Felino" (Felino Javier) - $122,000; "CRA" (Canada Revenue Agency) - $122,000; "Wendy" (Wendy Arena) - $30,000; and "S and J Mechanicals" - $8,000.
The $300,000 made out to Dr. Santiago appears to be a reimbursement of her personal loan to FCT, according to Vasquez, "for a series of payments to lawyers (not identified) from 2006 to 2012 for a total of $205,255.70." In addition, payment also went for roof repair amounting to $90,000. (Related story: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2021/09/fct-officials-oppose-audit.html).
Making note of San Juan's refusal to have an independent audit, which in her words "would cost a lot more, about $10,000 more for each year", Vasquez said "she has exhibited a looseness with FCT funds for expensive lawyers whose main job is apparently to write simple emails (for San Juan) or raise the specter of libel".
The "expensive lawyers" he mentioned in the article were not named. Nor was there any breakdown of how much FCT paid to whom, for what, and for what period of time.
However, the alleged payment from 2006 to 2012 of $205,255.70 antedated the sale of FCT's old building in January 2017. The building fetched a whopping $5.9 million, which easily made FCT a multi-millionaire.
In October 2014, the FCT forked out at least $400,000 to settle its legal dispute with Dr. Francisco Portugal who the FCT had reinstated five years after he was dismissed from the organization. He passed away in February this year. (Video and full story at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqlJH4SIYsc).
One highlight of Vasquez's article was the allegation that FCT has violated its constitution and by-laws by paying salaries and allowances to officers, directors, and members who were supposed to be volunteers. Besides, a special resolution authorizing such payment contravened FCT by-laws.
Previously, Vasquez claimed some officials were paid monies evidenced by canceled checks made out to Efren de Villa, FCT chairman; and board members Frank Cruzet and Philip Beloso.
So, in its current state, what is the true and real situation in FCT?
In January 2017, FCT got $5.9 million for its old building. Months later, payables had surfaced for which FCT apparently paid a total of $678,000. In 2018, FCT bought a one-story structure in Scarborough for $1.9 million.
Thereafter, FCT announced allocating $1 million for remodeling.
It seems the money generated by the building sale is fast dwindling. Is this the reason FCT has stayed mute? (Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved).
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