"Under our by-laws there should be an election on July 31. We must push through with it," said Asia’s first grandmaster during the weekly PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion where he fielded questions regarding the state of Philippine chess and some major controversies surrounding the NCFP.
Torre said he is no longer interested in the NCFP presidency, which he briefly held in 2001 after a long leadership dispute at the now-defunct Philippine Chess Federation (PCF). The NCFP is now under Matias Defensor, who was proclaimed Representative of Quezon City’s third district just the other day.
"I will not seek the presidency…definitely not. I’m still an active player. When I became NCFP president, it was a big sacrifice on my part. So, I’d rather play the supporting role. I think I’d be more effective with it," added Torre, who blamed the system, and not the personalities, for all the troubles hounding the NCFP.
"We should not focus on the persons involved but the system itself because it is flawed and we must correct it. And it’s not only in chess. Even in the other NSAs (national sports associations), I think the problem is the system. So before we even hold the elections, we must clear all doubts and erase them first," said Torre.
"Then whoever wins the elections, we must respect him and follow him. Whoever he is. The problem with the NCFP is that it cannot even afford a good secretary or a good bookkeeper. Right there, the system is already flawed. And therefore, suspicions arise and problems occur. Transparency is questioned," Torre said.
Torre said whatever flaws there are in the NCFP system should be tackled during a board meeting and not in a public forum where the officials are not even present.
Clean and orderly elections, and the cooperation of everybody concerned, Torre added, could be the solution to all the problems that led to disunity in Philippine chess. On one side is NCFP Sammy Estimo and Torre, and on the other one executive director Toti Abundo and Grandmasters Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor.
Former FIDE president Florencio Campomanes, the grand old man of Philippine chess, is still very much around and was even accused by Torre as the man behind all the present controversies. The 77-year-old Campomanes denied this and then called for peace and unity in Philippine chess.
"We are all for unity. But first we must correct the system then hold the elections. Once your system is in place, the association will run smoothly whoever your president or executive director is," said Torre, neck-deep in controversies like the alleged failure of the NCFP to handle its finances well.
Defensor can still run as NCFP president and, in fact, can even do a better job now that he’s a Congressman.
International Master Jayson Gonzales, who also graced the forum along with GM candidate Marc Paragua and chess troubleshooter Willy Abalos, said it’s about time the country’s top chess officials settle their differences.
"A lot of time is being wasted here. So I hope they settle everything. Then us players, who are just followers, will follow. Every leader has his style like those in politics and the corporate world. We just have to support him and whoever succeeds him. And once everything is settled, then it will be the new dawn of Philippine chess," he said.