LVPI, the formerly accredited volleyball federation in the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), disclosed that it paid the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) a total of $80,000 (roughly worth of debt P3.8 million) as debt and other expenses. 

LVPI President Joey Romasanta addressed a letter to FIVB President Dr. Ary Graca dated May 4 stating he is following up their previous letters including the most recent last January demanding the same matter. 

“The LVPI was able to comply and honor its obligation commensurate to a perfected contract in which we deemed proper to rectify the injustice done to LVPI by FIVB,” Romasanta wrote.

“The non-refund of FIVB imposed USD80,000 and the other expenses incurred will further add to the unfairness we suffered in supporting the programs in upgrading Philippine volleyball as well as AVC and FIVB events,” he propounded.

In 2015, the FIVB has granted provisional recognition to LVPI after complying with their conditions and requirements that involve payments amounting to $80,000 incurred by the defunct PVF.

Later on, the FIVB pushed the POC to manage an election that will combine the squabbling factions in Philippine volleyball, the LVPI and the PVF.

The elections happened last January resulting in the formation of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF), in which Ramon “Tats” Suzara became president. 

Though the LVPI agreed to the elections, it sought clarification on the amount paid in 2015.

“While we are amenable to conducting an election within LVPI, if this is a necessary step to FIVB’s  full recognition of our federation, however, LVPI will be unjustly aggrieved if FIVB is in fact withdrawing recognition of LVPI through requiring the conduct of a new election by another volleyball federation in the Philippines to be recognized by FIVB,” read in a separate letter dated January 12, 2021

“If this is the case, then we have no other recourse but to demand the return of our USD 80,000.00 plus the other expenses LVPI  incurred in compliance with FIVB conditions imposed in exchange for LVPI recognition,” it added.

PNVF Board Member Ricky Palou, who was the former secretary-general of LVPI, asserted the LVPI was only given temporary recognition since it was not elevated to the FIVB General Assembly.

Moreover, Palou added that LVPI has no claim in requesting the refund since the FIVB gave them the avenue to host FIVB-sanctioned tournaments that helped them in financial matters in paying the loan. 

“I don’t think they have the right to demand that,” Palou said.

Meanwhile, PNVF President Tats Suzara added they couldn’t help with the LVPI’s request since “we are a new federation and we have nothing to do with that.”