Another Archer linked to scam

La Salle representative to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Board Lito Tanjuatco said yesterday the school has received confirmation from the Department of Education (DepEd) that the Philippine Educational Placement Certificate of Rating (PEPTCR) of a former senior basketball player is not authentic.

The confirmation came in the wake of a previous disclosure that the PEPTCR of a Green Archer, who saw action in the UAAP this season, is fake.

Neither player was identified by La Salle officials although it was widely reported that the first cager was Mark Benitez.

Tanjuatco said the confirmation of the second player was made through a letter signed by National Educational Testing and Research Center director Dr. Nelia Benito. The letter was dated Oct. 10, postmarked Oct. 17 and received by the university yesterday.

The second player was not in La Salle’s senior roster this year.

Tanjuatco explained that because of the growing concern of school registrars in Metro Manila that hand-carried academic records may be spurious, La Salle asked the DepEd to verify six PEPTCR documents of enrolled students last August.

In its reply, the DepEd authenticated four of the six documents, noted one was defective and another was subject to further verification. The reply was in the form of a letter dated last Aug. 9 and received by La Salle last Aug. 18.

The student, whose PEPTCR was found to be defective, played for the Archers this season. A re-verification of the fake document came from the DepEd in a letter dated last Oct. 6 and received the day after Game 2 of the UAAP finals between La Salle and Far Eastern University.

The document that was subject to further verification turned out to be spurious and it was of the second player.

Tanjuatco said the four-man committee formed by university executive vice president Dr. Carmelita Quebengco to investigate the case of the first player will now enlarge its scope to include the second player.

Tanjuatco said the probe will be exhaustive and completed as soon as possible. Once the committee submits its final report, a press conference will be called by La Salle to disclose the findings. Tanjuatco promised to speed up the investigation and get to the bottom of both cases.

Meanwhile, Benitez and his father Mesh appeared yesterday before the committee.

The meeting took place at the school’s sports development office from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Tanjuatco, a committee member, said the Benitezes came on their own volition and in good faith. A letter of invitation to attend the meeting was hand-delivered by a school representative to the Benitezes in their home in Angono, Rizal, the night before.

The other committee members are the university registrar, the sports development office director and the school’s legal counsel.

Tanjuatco declined to reveal what was discussed in the 2 1/2 hour meeting. He said it was called in the interest of clearing the air and establishing the facts of the case.

Tanjuatco said the Benitezes indicated they will not be available for media interviews until La Salle concludes its investigation and makes public the committee’s findings.

Tanjuatco appealed to media to respect the Benitezes’ privacy while the investigation is ongoing. He also said it will not be fair to the involved parties to release piecemeal information which may be taken out of context in the course of the investigation.

"It wouldn’t be timely to subject the Benitezes to questioning at this point because the investigation is still being completed," said Tanjuatco. "Once the facts are all gathered and the committee finishes its report, then all questions from media will be entertained."

Tanjuatco assured that the final report will not be a whitewash.

As for Benitez, Tanjuatco said he’s not sure what his immediate plans are. Benitez was picked by Hapee Toothpaste in the recent Philippine Basketball League (PBL) dispersal draft after ICTSI decided to take a leave of absence in the coming Heroes Cup.