“Lagareng Hapon” Macabenta Does a Kamikaze at Today’s NaFFAA’s Conference at Bally’s in Las Vegas |
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Sections - NaFFAAgate | |||
Written by Bobby M. Reyes | |||
Sunday, 15 May 2011 16:27 | |||
“ELM Criminal Clique” Members Make Fools of Themselves Again and Display More Ropes to Hang Themselves in Court By Lolo Bobby M. Reyes G reg “Lagareng Hapon” Macabenta once again loses his cool and throws away good manners, if not right conduct, in going after – and shouting at – Ernie Gange, a fellow cofounder of the National Federation of Filipino-American Associations (NaFFAA). The scene of the “Lagareng Hapon” Macabenta’s Kamikaze-like tirade was the Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, where a motley crowd of less-than 90 NaFFAA’s national executive officers (NEOs) and regional chapter officers met in a three-day conference from Friday to today (May 13-15, 2011). Observers could not confirm if Mr. Macabenta was drunk again during his Kamikaze performance. Mr. Macabenta, who is affectionately dubbed by the Filipino-American press as “Lagareng Hapon,” is one of the principals of the so-called “Esclamado-Lewis-Macabenta (ELM) Criminal Clique” that has ruled the NaFFAA from 1997 to November 2010. Once again, the “NaFFAAgate,” the “Menorgate” and the Ballygate of Mr. Macabenta wielded a proverbial form of his “Lagareng Hapon” (Japanese saw), if not a verbal version of a chainsaw, and tried to cut at the person and reputation of the much-respected Apo Ernie Gange for allegedly being the “Deep Throat” of Bobby Reyes and Romy Marquez. Apo Ernie, a septuagenarian gentleman from The outburst of Mr. Macabenta was uncalled for and the program moderator at the time, Benedicto “Bin” Menor of the “Menorgate” fame, did not rule the “Lagareng Hapon” as out of order. A 2011 Version of “Dietzcoveries:” Sex, Lies and NaFFAAgate Ms. Lorna Dietz even displayed on a big screen a reproduction of Apo Ernie’s e-mails to Willie Dechavez, as also replicated in the article, Lolo Bobby Finally Mails Dossier to the IRS on the Income-tax and RICO-Act Violations of the NaFFAA’s “ELM Criminal Clique” Ms. Dietz, a reputed relative of the late Russian cosmonaut, Yuri Gagarin, echoed his boss at the Filipinas Magazine, Greg “L. H.” Macabenta, that it was Apo Ernie Gange, who supplied the supposedly-incriminating e-mails to Bobby Reyes. For all her IQ, Ms. Dietz never realized that the said e-mails were posted actually in three e-newsgroups: 2011_NaFFAA_NST@yahoogroups.com, ace_international@egroups.com and brucefamily@googlegroups.com, with CC to EJN0115@aol.com (e-mail address of current NaFFAA National Chairman Ed J. Navarra). Any member of the said three e-forums or Mr. Navarra, who is reputedly Bobby Reyes’ best friend in the Actually many of the delegates to the said NaFFAA conference said privately that Macabenta and Company could have replied to Mr. Reyes’ May 13th exposé by simply producing the missing documents. “Piercing the Veil of Corporate Fiction” M any of the delegates were also scratching their heads upon knowing that “Bin” Menor, the chairman of 2010 NaFFAA national convention in Mr. Menor and Atty. Rodis were the co-chairmen of the now-infamous NaFFAA convention in The Wells Fargo Bank Foundation actually donated $100,000 to bankroll the said August 2002 NaFFAA convention but the then NEOs could not explain how the funds disappeared and where was it spent. Mr. Gange also has inquired what happened also to a $100,000 donation made by Bank of America to the NaFFAA also in 2002, which has not been accounted for in any of the financial statements made by the federation to date. Former NaFFAA National Treasurer Puts Up a Defense In the meantime, former NaFFAA National Treasurer Lourdes Corrales of Jersey City, NJ, has sent word to this investigative reporter that she has never had custody of the financial records and check books of the NaFFAA. According to a mutual friend who relayed Ms. Corrales’ message, it was the NaFFAA’s National Assistant Treasurer Lourdes “Luly” Esclamado who was in possession of the said federation financial records and check books from the first day that the NaFFAA was formed in 1997. There is a good chance that Ms. Corrales may turn state witness, should the Feds indict the members of the “ELM Criminal Clique” for violation of the Income Tax Law and the RICO Act. Ms. Corrales allegedly said that it was the same case with her predecessor, Klaus Buntua, CPA, who resigned, as he claimed also that he was merely a decorative figure in the NaFFAA headquarters. Mr. Buntua said that no financial records or even a single check book were turned over to him during the months of his tenure as the NaFFAA national treasurer. Both newly-appointed NaFFAA National Treasurer Bart SG Tubalinal, Jr., a Chicago-based CPA, and Mrs. Esclamado attended this week’s NaFFAA conference in
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At the age of many of these leaders, mga senior citizens na mga yan, dapat sana may 'Act of Contrition' na rin... As a senior citizen myself, I am reminded of this saying, to paraphrase: "what doth a man profit if he gains the worldly treasures but loses his own soul in the fires of hell" ... Mga kapwa Filipino.... no one can rent a U--Haul to bring your riche$$$$ to heaven or HELL!
The First Amendment guarantees Apo Ernie's right to a free speech under the U.S. Constitution. And he speaks nothing but the truth. He helped found and support NaFFAA on the premise that it will always remain a model organization worthy of being the umbrella organization of all Fil-Am organizations in this country.
And for speaking out, Apo Ernie was crucified. For following his conscience, Apo Ernie was vilified. Apo Ernie spoke the truth and let's face it, "the truth hurts." To allow those people to prevail and be the dominant force and voice in the organization is an exercise in futility.
I feel sad for this honorable man whose name he bears is impeccable and legendary in Iloilo in general and in Guimaras Island in particular. It's time to look forward to a new endeavor, Apo Ernie. You can hold your head high as you go forward. You have done your part and have proven yourself to be the true giant of them all. I salute you.
Don Azarias
Jesse Jose
Seattle, Washington