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BELEAGUERED Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
commissioner Noli Eala yesterday formally announced his
resignation as the league’s top honcho.
The
43-year-old Eala, who appeared forlorn as he hastily
approached the lone seat of the table prepared for him,
read a one-page statement at the PBA office in Libis,
Quezon City, attended by print, television and radio personalities.
NOLI EALA’S resignation
could perhaps be one of the saddest chapters in the
league’s 32-year history. -- NONOY
LACZA
Eala
becomes the first commissioner of the 32-year-old league
to resign from his post. He was named commissioner in
2003, replacing the late Emilio “Jun” Bernardino.
“To ease
the pain of the people who matter most to me, my family,
especially my children, and to shield the league I truly
care for with so much passion from any erroneous
perceptions related to my disbarment case in the Supreme
Court, I am today tendering my immediate resignation as
commissioner of the PBA,” was what Eala read in front of
the media.
In the
same press briefing, Eala said he will pursue legal
remedies of his disbarment case, as well as matters
pertaining to his private life that was recently
divulged to the public.
“I stand
by my decision in the past comforted by the fact that I
have taken care of my family and children, and made
peace with those I have aggrieved,” said Eala.
Eala sat
alone while the league’s office staff and officials
stood around to witness what is perhaps one of the
saddest league decisions they have ever seen in the PBA.
After
reading the statement, Eala immediately went back to his
office and declined to answer any question from the
media.
Sources
disclosed that an officer in charge (OIC) will be
appointed by the board of governors within the week. A
short list for the OIC post was made available
yesterday, and it included former Philippine Basketball
League commissioner Chito Narvasa, expro and former
senator Freddie Webb, former Pasig City Mayor Mario
Raymundo and mediaman Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Reportedly, as soon as Eala arrived from an official
trip from Tokushima, Japan, he was asked by the board to
explain his side yesterday regarding the disbarment
controversy.
Eala
arrived Monday afternoon from the Fiba-Asia tournament
along with the PBA-backed San Miguel-Team Pilipinas
players, coaches and officials. The team finished ninth.
The same
source said that the board voted on Eala’s tenure, where
six governors favored the acceptance of the resignation,
with one governor going against it. The two others
reportedly abstained.
Eala has
since been bugged by the disbarment decision meted out
against him by the Supreme Court which was promulgated
on August 1.
The
18-page decision signed by all SC justices, including
Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno, disbarred Eala “for
grossly immoral conduct, violation of his oath of
office, and violation of Canon I, Rule 1.01 and Canon 7,
Rule 7.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility.”
The case
stemmed from the Complaint for Disbarment filed by one
Joselano Guevarra, the former husband of Eala’s current
partner Irene Moje.
The case
was filed on
March 4, 2002,
before the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Committee
on Bar Discipline (IBP-CBD).
Guevarra
accused Eala of “flaunting their adulterous
relationship” as they attended social functions
together.
During
the hearing of the case, Eala denied the allegation by
stating that “their relationship was low profile and
known only to the immediate members of their respective
families.”
IBP-CBD
investigating commissioner Milagros V. San Juan, in a
12-page report and recommendation dated October 26,
2004, found the charge against Eala “sufficiently
proven.”
The IBP
board of governors annulled and set aside San Juan’s
recommendation by issuing a 33-word resolution, but was
eventually overruled by the SC.
Among
the evidences used against Eala, who was married to
Marianne Tantoco with whom he has three children, was a
love letter dated October 17, 2000, the day of
Guevarra’s wedding to Moje.
The
Court said that Eala’s statements in his answer are an
admission that there is indeed a “special” relationship
between him and the complainant’s wife.
Those
who attended the PBA board meeting were PBA chairman
Ricky Vargas of Talk ’N Text, incoming chairman Tony
Chua of Red Bull, Joaqui Trillo of Alaska, Lito Alvarez
of Air21, Ariel Magno of Sta. Lucia Realty, Rene Pardo
of Purefoods, Robert Non of Barangay Ginebra, Ely
Capacio of San Miguel Corp. and Mamerto Mondragon of
Welcoat. |
