THE Philippine Karatedo Federation (PFK) received another round of punches from disgruntled national athletes who claimed their officials siphoned their allowances while in attending a training camp abroad last year.
“He stole from us,” team captain Engene Dagohoy said, referring to PKF Secretary General Raymund Lee Reyes whom the athletes accused of shortchanging them of their $1,800 allowances from the Philippine Sports Commission as they trained overseas for the Malaysia 29th Southeast Asian Games last August.
The karatekas said they were given $400 to $500 each by Reyes, who took a leave of absence as the National Bureau of Investigation conducts its inquiry on the controversy.
Dagohoy aired his accusation against the PKF official during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Wednesday at the Tapa King Restaurant at the Farmer’s Market in Cubao, Quezon City.
He, along with six other national athletes, were accompanied by Philippine Sports Commission Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, who has taken the cudgels for the embattled karatekas.
“We should convict all the persons behind this matter. This is happening in the PKF for many years. We don’t want to experience the same fate again,” Dagohoy stressed.
Before going on leave, Reyes denied any wrongdoing saying funds from the PSC were properly spent for the training camp of 12 athletes and two coaches in Germany.