Top cop, councilor deny owing to money basketball game organizer

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – “We have no obligation to pay more to the organizer of the basketball game.”

This was stressed by Councilor Al Victor Espino and Police Lieutenant Colonel Levy Pangue, deputy city director for administration of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), following the controversial basketball game between the “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” cast vs. “Artistahing Bacoleños” last Oct 26 at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum here.

The issue made headlines after a certain “Norma” alleged in an online program of Ben Tulfo “Bitag Sumbungan ng Bayan” on December 6 that 10 players of the Probinsyano casts were not paid their talent fees.

In a press conference at the BCPO headquarters here yesterday, Espino said they already paid the organizer based on the ticket sales as what they have initially agreed.

“Wala kami obligasyon bisan kay sin-o kay klaro kami. How do you pay for something that does not exist?” Espino said.

Espino also questioned the identity of the organizer who introduced herself with three names.

For his part, Pangue said that they have paid a certain Rory Lumba P401,090 based on the ticket sales.

“We have not discussed the breakdown of the proceeds because it was supposed to be a game for a cause,” he added.

Pangue said that the event was held after Lumba proposed to him a basketball game for a cause which will benefit the BCPO.

Lumba told them that 30 percent of the ticket sales will go to the BCPO for the implementation of their projects and programs, he added.

“We have done our part. We paid for what we have agreed,” he said.

“The BCPO did not even get a 30 percent share in the tickets sales, because about 50 percent of the tickets have not been sold during the event,” Pangue said, adding that the organizer refused to accept the remaining unsold tickets when they met at the BCPO headquarters after the game day.

Aside from the ticket sales which they “verbally “ agreed, Espino said that the BCPO asked his help as chairman of the committee on Police Matters, to shoulder the hotel accommodation, venue, lunch and dinner of the cast as what the organizer asked from them based on their agreement.

Pangue meanwhile clarified that Leonardia and the city government have nothing to do with the event. It was even noted that the event is not part of the MassKara festivities.