Negros booters, coach attack Baguio rivals

BAGUIO CITY -- Violence reportedly marred the May 25 games of the Millennium Palarong Pambansa in Bacolod City when a losing West Visayas football team attacked the winning team from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The coach and several players of West Negros College have been accused of mauling elementary-grade football players from Baguio City after losing a Palaro football match last May 25.

Baguio players accused coach Leo Betita -- who allegedly hit a Baguio player with an armchair -- and players Reyan Vergavera and Wilfredo Golez, for sparking the fight.

DECS-CAR Regional Director Tomas Ratum, who was with the Cordillera team in Bacolod City, filed the complaint on the day of the incident with his DECS counterpart in the region. The complaint was also signed by Rolando Brillantes, chairman of the Palarong Pambansa 2000 technical committee.

In his complaint, Ratum said the game was "marred by a series of foul plays, especially after the Cordillera teams scored the winning goal early in the match."

DECS-CAR assistant regional director Jesus Taberdo echoed Ratum's complaint to The STAR in a phone interview, saying he was also in Bacolod when the unfortunate incident happened.

Tournament officials had officially supported Ratum's complaint, writing the DECS-VI office about the incident, and seeking disciplinary action against the erring Palaro participants. The complaint was signed by Mario Garovillo, tournament secretary; Sergio Lacquian, tournament manager; Fernando Flores, tournament director; and noted by Edward Magalona, a consultant of the Philippine Football Association.

The DECS-CAR chief said the Baguio players were lining up for the post-game handshakes when one Reyan Vergavera of the host team allegedly punched Baguio's Nestor Udan on the chest. "Udan tried to run away but another player from Region 6 grabbed him by the legs, tripping him to the ground. West Visayas players then pounced on the boy, kicking and punching him."

Instead of pacifying his players, coach Betita allegedly took a wooden arm-rest to hit Baguio player Leopoldo Tilaogan on the nape, "then turned on CAR player Wendell Estibal, threatening to hit the boy with the chair's arm-rest."

"During the game itself, the coach of the host team grabbed by the shirt a member of the Cordillera high school football team (who was rooting for CAR team) and menacingly pointed a ballpen to the boy's belly," complained Ratum.

"Terrified and shocked, the Cordillera team members and officials rushed to their service vehicle. . . to escape further injury. The school guard, however, refused to open the gate, forcing the team members to move out of the vehicle. . . to look for another ride."

"Several of our team members are nursing injuries. The boys have been psychologically scarred and are unsure whether they can regain their focus and be able to play in their ensuing games." --