Volume 3, Issue No. 10
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, November 1, 2021
~ Perhaps fearing its years-long silence would be interpreted as acquiescence or tacit agreement, the non-profit Filipino Centre Toronto took out a press release denying published allegations of wrongdoing in the disbursement of its multi-million funds. Backed by expensive lawyers, the FCT is on the offensive. It has called members to a meeting several days from now, ostensibly to give light to a spate of unfavorable and critical stories questioning its unfulfilled promise to be transparent and accountable.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FILIPINO CENTRE TORONTO'S DENIAL
FCT Says Reports On Spending 'Untrue, Misleading'
By ROMEO P. MARQUEZ
Editor, The Filipino Web Channel
“Few love to hear the sins they love to act.” ― Pericles
TORONTO - With the help of concerned members and whistleblowers, the local media's microscopic scrutiny of financial transactions made by Filipino Centre Toronto is forcing its officials to talk, albeit guardedly and ambiguously.
Bursting from its characteristic sepulchral silence, the wealthy non-profit organization took exception to published reports of alleged illegal payments, overspending, and conflict-of-interest accommodations, calling them "untrue, inaccurate, misleading and highly unfair".
It's the first public response the FCT has ever made since accusations flew thick and fast that financial improprieties are being committed within the group.
"At this point, the Filipino Centre Toronto, appropriately with sound legal advice and consultation would like to state categorically that the published allegations as presented by the writersare (sic) untrue, inaccurate, misleading, and highly unfair," the FCT said in a press statement.
In articles it did not identify by authors or by publications, the FCT said "the writers undesirably and unfortunately imputed and alleged that the Filipino Centre Toronto made some stipulatedmanagement (sic) decisions and financial actions in their operation".
"The FCT as a not-for-profit, volunteer-run, and community service organization is determined and has been reasonably operating tomeet (sic) its mission and mandate with the full trust and support by its directors, officers, and members," the FCT said in an undated press release published in Atin Ito newspaper this week.
It claimed that it "has the general policy and purpose of the 22-year-old organization to operate and manage the Centre and its commitments and resources well and above board by diligently practicing standard financial operation and reporting".
The FCT statement is basically a denial of the allegations that community media have been publishing since members and whistleblowers continue their demands for transparency and accountability, particularly after FCT emerged from near-bankruptcy and became a multi-millionaire once it sold its old building in 2017 for $5.9 million, bought a one-story fixer-upper for $1.9 million, and kept at least $4 million presumably intact.
From that time on, monetary claims to the tune of at least $678,000 have surfaced, and quietly paid, to the surprise of members who have been asking for clarity in disbursing FCT funds. (Video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZFXKzvQqYY).
The FCT did not address this specific item in its press release. Instead, in what could be described as decidedly ambiguous, the FCT said:
"The payment to certain Board Members referred to in the newspaper articles were duly approved by resolution of the Board of Directors including those Directors who are part of the Concerned Members.
"These payments to certain Directors and members were for services rendered, not in their capacity as Members of the Board and member, but for property management and office administration, and for loans advanced. This information was fully disclosed and discussed during the 2019 SMG".
To paraphrase, thus: "These payments . . . were for services rendered, not . . . as Members of the Board and member, but for property management and office administration . . . " That's quite a mouthful if not an involuntary admission of a conflict of interest when FCT paid certain individuals in the following manner:
"Vicki" (Dr. Victoria Santiago, a board member) - $300,000; "RCJ" (Rosalinda Cerudo Javier, then FCT president) - $96,000; "Felino" (Felino Javier, supposedly a volunteer handyman) - $122,000; "CRA" (Canada Revenue Agency) - $122,000; "Wendy" (Wendy Arena, administrative assistant) - $30,000; and "S and J Mechanicals" - $8,000.
The $300,000 that went to Dr. Santiago was reimbursement of her personal loan to FCT, from where FCT paid lawyers. The monies paid to the husband-and-wife couple Felino and Rosalinda Javier ($122,000 plus $96,000 equals $218,000) have not been fully explained.
In addition, some amounts also were paid/given/transferred to Efren de Villa, FCT chairman; and board members Frank Cruzet and Philip Beloso, according to documents obtained by writer Cress Vasquez and published in two Filipino tabloids. (Related story at: https://filwebchannelmagazine.blogspot.com/2021/10/fct-opens-its-mouth-with-warning-to.html).
Some members said they "felt sick to the stomach to learn that they are being paid", which is a reference to payments FCT made to members who are supposed to be volunteers.
The FCT appears to have unwittingly admitted it has not done a third-party independent audit - a charge leveled by concerned members and whistleblowers - when it stated in its press release that "the FCT has engaged an independent auditor to conduct an audit of the 2016, 2017, and 2018 financial statements including the payments to certain Board Members and member" who "will perform the audit in accordance with the Canadian GAAP Accounting Standards".
The statement implied that an audit by the unidentified "independent auditor" is in fact ongoing.
"The audited financial statements for 2016, 2017 and 2018," the press release stated, "will be presented to the members during the upcoming AGM (annual general meeting) to be held on Sunday, November 14, 2021 at the Burrows Hall Community Centre located at 1081 Progress Avenue (Sheppard), Scarborough from 2:00 pm. to 5:00 pm". (Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved).
No comments:
Post a Comment