*Editor’s note: In the May 14, 2012 issue, this article was not published in whole.
Below is the entire article.
UST WILL be without its table tennis squads “for the time being,” following a dispute between head coach Henberd Ortalla and his players.
Both camps have traded formal charges before the Office of the Rector, prompting school officials to disband the entire table tennis squad and not to reappoint Ortalla and assistant coach Jackson Que.
Ortalla had been coaching UST since 1997 and led the school to eight men’s and six women’s titles. His contract expired last March 31.
“That’s already our decision, to disband the team for the time being,” Fr. Ermito de Sagon, director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), told the Varsitarian, citing the complaints against the coach.
De Sagon added: “We cannot take Ortalla back because there was already a rupture between him and the players, and I doubt that they can patch things up. We also cannot reappoint Jackson.”
The complaint lodged against Ortalla last Feb. 7 ranged from “indiscriminate punishment” and “favoritism” to allegedly engaging in a romantic relationship with one of his players.
The complainants were rookies Celinber Montes and Julius Capangpangan, juniors Girly Apas, V Lupeba, Princess Masong, Adolfo Bazar, Anne Margaret Salutillo, and Raymond Manlapaz, and veterans Martin Diaz and Aron Pereyra.
Ortalla denied all the allegations in a letter to the Office of the Rector dated April 11. He had also filed counter charges the day before against the complainants. He included in his own complaint team captain and MVP Aaron Morales, and players Cristian Vicente, Christian Abendan, Aslee Marjalino, Lydelle Dizon, Karmela Rocero, and Juvylyn Robles.
Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. created a special investigating committee headed by lawyer Antonio Chua to look into the matter. Ortalla was formally informed about the charges in a March 14 letter.
In his counter charges, Ortalla alleged that the players had violated the school regulations on honesty, courtesy and good grooming. He also filed a complaint against his assistant coach for allegedly “overpricing” the purchase of equipment and uniforms, making “ghost” purchases, and seeking reimbursement from UST without actually buying anything for it.
Sought for comment, Que told the Varsitarian that he did “not know anything” about the charges. He declined to elaborate. The players were yet to respond to their coach’s allegations.
In his letter, Ortalla said the charges were meant only to soil his reputation and kick him out as head coach.
“Ang mga players na naghain ng kanilang mga reklamo laban sa akin ay mga naimpluwensyahan lamang at hindi nila lubos na naintindihan ang kanilang mga ginawa,” he wrote.
In a handwritten statement, one of the players alleged that Ortalla once hit him repeatedly in the gut for wearing a pair of earrings.
“‘Yung pinakamabigat na ginawa sa akin ni coach ay ‘yung sinikmuraan ako nang todong-todo–lampas sampung beses dahil lang sa nahuli akong nakahikaw,” complainant Capangpangan said.
The complaint also alleged that the married coach was in a romantic relationship with one of his players. But Ortalla said in his written response: “Mataas po ang paggalang ko sa sanctity of marriage at ayaw kong masira ang pagtitiwala sa akin ng aking maybahay dahil lang sa ‘di umano’y pakikipag-relasyon ko sa isang player. Wala po itong katotohanan.” Carla Patricia S. Perez with reports from R. S. J. T. Lozada
