La Salle case revived as UAAP board convenes

The La Salle eligibility scam, which has been shelved for more than a month with the staging of the Southeast Asian Games, is expected to be revived when the UAAP board reconvenes tomorrow.

Although the scandal, which rocked not only La Salle but the league as well, is not included in the agenda, board representatives Ricky Palou of Ateneo and Anton Montinola of Far Eastern U said there’s still a possibility the issue might be taken up.

"It’s not in the agenda that we’re going to discuss the issue," said Palou. "But there’s a possibility that it might be discussed in other matters."

Board chair Fr. Max Rendon, C.M., however, has refused to comment on the investigation.

Still, the fact-finding group, chaired by Fr. Ermito de Sagon, O.P. of Santo Tomas, might not be able to come up with a recommendation since its investigation is only three-fourths complete. It is expected to completed the investigation next month.

Other members of the committee are Josie de Leon of Far Eastern U, Arlene Royo of National U, Ric Matibag of Adamson and league counsel Rene Maria Villa.

Suspension is one possible sanction La Salle could face, the same penalty slapped on Adamson in 1994 for fielding Marlou Aquino despite his academic deficiencies.

In an issue that rocked the foundation of the 68-year-old league, La Salle admitted that its two players — Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian — had used spurious documents to be able to enter the school and play in the UAAP. — Joey Villar