INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping filed estafa charges Monday against former wushu chief Julian Camacho for allegedly claiming and encashing the monthly paycheck of a coach no longer connected with the national wushu team.

Angping accused Camacho of approving the request for the release of Chinese coach Yu Dingbao?s salary from February to October 2008 amounting to P441,190, excluding other monthly benefits such as P22,000 for housing and P5,000 for utilities.

The case was filed with the Manila Prosecutor?s Office. It cited a Bureau of Immigration and Deportation certification that Yu left the country on Jan. 18, 2008.

Angping said Camacho executed an affidavit on Feb. 20 last year asking for the release of the $1,000 (P47,000) paycheck and other financial perks on behalf of Yu for the next eight months until October.

Angping, accompanied by PSC chief legal counsel Paul Vega, filed the case before assistant city prosecutor Adeliza Magno Gingoyon.

Camacho said he would face his accusers in court.

He explained that the WFP paid Yu $1,500 a month for his services, $1,000 of which came from the PSC.

He said that in requesting for the release of Yu?s salary, the WFP was only trying to offset the $500 deficit.