In a recent meeting of the board of the Philippine Community Council of NSW, the unexpected happened. Three PCC board members whom the Philippine Australian Disaster Emergency Relief committee (PADER) wanted to be sacked were pardoned. The meeting was held on June 12, 2013. It was attended by at least 3 members of PADER who also happened to be directors of PCC.
It came as a big surprise because prior to the meeting, I was talking with my confidential source. The person was very passionate about the entire incident. PCC president Elsa Collado was reported to have authorised withdrawal of $3,300 from the PADER account to make a deposit for the Philippine National Day Ball (PND). It was obvious that the PCC bank account did not have sufficient balance to cover the required amount. Upon receiving a letter of complaint signed by two members of PADER, Ms. Collado reportedly returned the money using her own funds.
What was even more mysterious was the fact that withdrawal was made with only one signature — contrary to its own (PCC) constitution and the rules of Charity Act 1991 of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. Millie Banan later admitted that she was solely responsible for the withdrawal. During the meeting held on June 12, Ms. Banan alleged that she made the withdrawal via phone banking. If her allegation is true, why did the bank allow her to make a transfer via phone banking? Is she authorised by the PCC board to perform phone banking in the first place?
Who initiated the pardon? Did anyone of the offenders ask for forgiveness? Did they admit they were at fault? Did they show remorse?
The answer to all of the above appears to be a resounding YES. My mole initially reported that there was a motion to forgive and that such motion was duly seconded. However, none of my sources could furnish the names of the persons responsible for the motion. As of press time, it appears from further investigation that there was no such motion. The minutes of the meeting held on June 12 should eventually clarify everything.
One PCC board member asked for a vote of no confidence — targeting Millie Banan, Elsa Collado and Alric Bulseco. Although Banan admitted that she alone was to blame, all three appeared to be in connivance regarding the unauthorised withdrawal of funds from the PADER account. Only 3 board members raised their hands when asked for a vote of no confidence.
This hullabaloo could have been avoided if Ms. Elsa Collado had used her own funds in the first place. She had money after all and could have been reimbursed after all receivables from the PNB Ball were collected. — Dino Crescini