Dangerous precedent

SOMEBODY  ought to extend some kind of assistance to former PBA cager Dennis Espino, who  is currently locked up in the San Fernando provincial jail for illegally detaining his secretary Mildred Eiman at his  Northline Farm in Arayat, Pampanga, in 2011.

Eiman said Dennis detained her for over a month because she could not  pay the  P5,000 debt she owed him. That was her version of what happened.  As soon as she found her way out of the farm, she filed a complaint against her employer who, in turn, charged her with qualified theft amounting to hundreds of thousands of pesos.

Teammates and associates in communication with Dennis said he wanted her to return the money she stole, which is why she was “detained.” Not for over a month, but only a couple of days.

* * *

No one could tell accurately how this case evolved from the time the legal suits were filed. I did some research and found out that  prior to his arrest, Dennis had been on the run for eight months, moving from place to place, using different vehicles. He was finally tracked down in his brother’s office in Mabalacat, Pampanga, last  Nov. 29.

I was told that at the time she was working for Dennis’ farm and piggery, Eiman was the girlfriend of one of the cager’s relatives. The latest report is she has changed partners since and has hooked up with one of the guys  who helped her win her case.

The last I heard, Dennis refuses to settle because he believes he is the aggrieved party.

* * *

It seems that Go Teng Kok has found the man worthy to replace him as Patafa president.

Last Chinese New Year’s day, I bumped into Star sports columnist Philip Ella Juico at Shangrila Chinese Resto in West Triangle.

Out of the blue, I asked him if he was going to be the next Patafa president.

He denied at first, but later admitted that the transfer of office (and power) is presently being facilitated  in the most  orderly manner possible.

According to Philip, GTK will concentrate on his business interests when he leaves sports.

The formal announcement is scheduled in March, he said.

* * *

Is it true that PBA Commissioner Chito Salud  excused Alaska Ace Sonny Thoss from all Monday workout sessions of the national team for the entire second conference?

A PBA official said Alaska had formally sought the permission of the commissioner and he said yes, but perhaps not without some amount of hesitation .

What’s to stop the next team from making a similar request? Here’s hoping it doesn’t set a precedent.

* * *

Coach Yeng Guiao’s intention was obviously to spare Rain or Shine cager Ronnie Matias the embarrassment and humiliation of being arrested in public,  right in his own turf, the Smart Araneta Coliseum, that’s why he volunteered to take full responsibility for the cager.

With lawyer-daughter Niner Guiao by his side, Yeng told the arresting officers he would personally turn over the cager to the authorities as soon as the courts  opened  Monday.

But Yeng didn’t even have to accompany or turn in Matias last  Monday.

“Ronnie voluntarily went to the court that issued the warrant of arrest and posted bail,”  Yeng said. I presumed  he was assisted by his  youthful legal counsel Lawyer Niner.

What was the brouhaha all about?

“Just a case of simple theft that dates back to Ronnie’s PBL days,” Yeng said.