If the by-laws of the PBA are to be followed, Chito Narvasa stays as the PBA’s commissioner
In a statement released by San Miguel Beermen team governor Robert Non, rules are there for a purpose and that it must be followed at all costs.
“They cannot just act on a whim. What they are doing is not in accordance with our by-laws and constitution. All five teams – San Miguel, Ginebra, Star, Kia and Globalport – stand behind Commissioner Narvasa,” said Non, who is speaking for the bloc that are still supporting Narvasa.
“He enjoys our full support and we have prevailed upon him to stay and do what is right.”
Thursday morning, an emergency meeting was held by the team governors of TNT, NLEX, Meralco, Phoenix, Alaska, Blackwater, and Rain or Shine. The seven heads of their respective franchises deemed that they are against the renewal of Narvasa’s term as league commissioner due to the “lack of trust by the PBA teams”.
Non though said that the seven votes is still one shy of the two-thirds needed to achieve quorum.
“These officials do not constitute the majority needed to remove or appoint the commissioner and thereafter, make any changes in the PBA structure,” furthered Non.
San Miguel, Star, Ginebra, Globalport, and Kia representatives were unable to attend the meeting as the notice was only given last October 30, a violation of the seven day rule for such.
“So without this clear majority, all changes being made by these renegade members are not allowed, including the appointment of Rickie Santos as officer-in-charge, and would not be binding on the whole board membership,” Non said.
“This includes as well the misrepresentation of NLEX board member Ramon Fernandez as PBA chairman, when in fact, the sitting chairman is still Globalport’s Mikee Romero.”
Non continued that these seven board members cite loss of confidence and poor performance as the reason for calling for Narvasa’s removal, but they cannot cite any instance that would back their claims up, save for the MVP teams’ dissatisfaction with the recent trade consummated between the San Miguel Beermen and Kia Picanto.
Non said he was informed that prior to Thursday’s meeting, five members of the renegade bloc, met with Narvasa at the UCC Cafe in Libis last Monday, October 30.
Narvasa attended the meeting on the belief that it was only with Fernandez to discuss PBA’s planning session, but when he arrived at the venue, four other board members – Dioceldo Sy (Blackwater), Mert Mondragon (Rain of Shine), Raymund Zorilla (Phoenix), and Dickie Bachmann (Alaska) – were also there to discuss his removal from his post as commissioner.
“This move does not sit well with the rest of us board members. Any move should be made in the proper forum and must be covered the league’s rules and regulations. Any move beyond this is definitely not allowed,” Non disclosed.
Non cited that the group backing the move to remove Commissioner Narvasa has the habit of changing commissioners at a whim, citing the decisions to remove Commissioner Noli Eala and Sonny Barrios in the past.
“If we allow that to happen, then this will weaken the Commissioner’s Office and turn it into a puppet of whoever is the most powerful among the team owners.”
