Showing posts with label Rotary International fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rotary International fraud. Show all posts

Sunday, October 4, 2020

Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

Diaries of a former Rotarian.
 Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.


Hello and good day to all activists around the world fighting  the crooks disguised as philanthropists and good doers, operating within clubs and associations.
Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

What you're about to discover, is the story of a former Rotarian that had the guts to stand up and shed light on a subtle, clever scam that was taking place within a Rotary Club in the Philippines. Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.
We are year 2005 in the Provence of Bohol Philippines, a bit old and outdated story you might think; but the sophistication of the scheme, if not so unique as it appears, it wasn't an isolated case within the Rotary International. The actors of this scam had a few me
ntors initiated on the practice somewhere in the USA and Australia, then in turn passed their experience to local Rotarians in Cebu and Bohol. 

Evan ILIADIS, a Rotarian member then of the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran  alerted the Rotary Administration on Evanston Illinois to realize that the latest was more concerned about saving the reputation of the club than reply to his accusations. He then decided to bring the case to people's tribunal by first publishing the story on the Club's own website: rotarycluboftagbilaran.org van ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

E
He published no less than 60 entries detailing the scam, naming and shaming the unscrupulous crooks taking advantage of the desperation of poor people in the rural areas of Bohol, giving them 10 cents of each dollar donated by generous Rotarians, and, most important by the Rotary Foundation (TRF for short) numbering thousands of US Dollars

Then, years later he (Evan) shot down almost all blogs related to the Rotary, without giving to thousands of his readers a reason.  I was one of them, also a contributor organizing mailing campaigns to subscribers around the world. I contacted him several times, all requests went unanswered, maybe he passed away? No! He's with us, well alive. Whatever the reason is, I, Gerald Tevenier decided to revive his blogs. I had not the necessary material, but the site "way back machine" had them. It is absolutely imperative that the world, generation after generation should know

Let's get started.
 

 VILLAGE AIDE PROGRAM(VAP rip-off) as we know it.

van ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

Evan ILIADIS wrote.
F
irst, allow me to introduce myself. I'm former Rotarian EVAN ILIADIS former member of the ROTARY CLUB OF TAGBILARAN (RCT for short) in the island of Bohol Philippines where I lived for 6 years forced to leave this country for medical reasons. From day one after my induction on March of 2004 I made service to the community a priority, a foul time none paid job serving children elderly and mentally retarded with funds provided by the VILLAGE AIDE PROGRAM (VAP for short) an organization based in Australia owned by Rotarian Derek Pyrah and his former family - former in the sense that he dumped them recently at the age of 62 and moved to the Philippines for the eyes of a 20 years young Filipino girl- funds sent and managed by former Rotarian and PP of the RCT Dave Collins.
On august of 2007 I received the PHF award my club unanimously agreed I deserve, the cost of $1000 paid by the VAP, Thrilled? not at all!. I whish I had receive it from the hands of the president of the RCT in recognition for services rendered within the club and not- unknowingly- contributing to VAP's crooked business.-
van ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

Back on September 2007, as a member of the ROTARY CLUB OF TAGBILARAN (RCT for short) I filed a request with the club asking the president to investigate the then Rotarians Dave and Baby Collins members of the said club the whereabouts of the following amounts of money:

-5 Matching Grants (MG for short) approved and money wired by the TRF (The Rotary Foundation)  to a MB (Metro Bank)  account the custodians been David Collins and Deoscoro Uy  manager of the local MB branch, past president of the RCT and treasurer. The MG I was referring to are:

- RC Milton-Mowbray Matching Grant 2006  P 800,000.00
- RC Milton-Mowbray Matching Grant 2007P950,000.00
- RC Collingwood Canada  Matching Grant 2007 P790,000.00
- RC Wilshire Blvd Hollywood Matching Grant 2007 P 900,000.00
- RC West Wollongong Matching Grant 2007 P 902,739.95

-Thousands of US dollars received from donations given by clubs and Rotarians around the world that were never registered in the club's accounting report as read in the regular meeting by the treasurer Deo Uy but instead were deposited to an MB account that only Collins and him (Deo) were custodians and knew the ins and outs of the money in violation of RI bylaws that every single dollar must be deposited in a club controlled bank account.

-10 millions pesos -Aprox. US$250,000.00 - received from the VILLAGE AIDE PROGRAM based in Australia as Baby Collins claimed on this banner posted the Club had no prior knowledge of any movement or a bank account under their control with such figures as posted outside her pawn shop downtown Tagbilaran City.



- A detailed cost and bidding documents for all construction projects financed by the RI as required under the terms and conditions of the TRF including Water-less toilets water tanks and more, that instead was done by Dave Collins as a prime contractor employing his own workers in violation of the "conflict of interest" section as also described by the TRF bylaws.

-The RCT formed an investigative committee to handle the complain  but the Collins when ordered to show up on scheduled appointments to explain the accusations did not comply, instead they deserted the club preferring the status of fugitives rather than try to defend the un-defendable, they knew my allegations were concrete solid ,fully backed with their own fingerprints on. At the same time, I notified the TRF about the fraud – the only word that perfectly fits – joining the necessary documentation to backup my allegations to the attention of Meredith Berliew and Collete Martin-Wilde, both Matching Grant supervisors - coordinators and Heather Fosburgh stewardship supervisor all 3 sitting in the RI headquarters in Evanston Illinois.

-At the time of my inquiry not all money was invested in the projects intended, they (Collins and Deo Uy  were asked to provide a foul accounting of the funds received and disclose where the unused money is. Baby Collins replied that they returned to the TRF 4 million pesos. (About 88 thousands US dollars) Not a single proof of it was given to the investigators.
Meanwhile, the TRF ordered Catherine King , a senior Matching Grant supervisor – coordinator for the SE Asia Rotary clubs to investigate my allegations. She cleared the RCT of any wrong doing indicating that the club can reapply for Matching Grants if they wish but when asked to provide information about the whereabouts of the 4 million pesos Collins claim they returned she has never replied.

-From a couple of hundred mails I received I chose two examples of typical comments that reflects quite a few others. Both comments were written by American Rotarians. Does it make any difference?  It sure does. Their pragmatism is very often not well perceived by the rest of the world, especially in the third world because of  lack of sensitivity, understanding of other cultures, unless they spent time there.  “Bill’s” comment below is a typical example. And  “George” wants me to go “right on the money” - so to speak! 

 Here is the first:

“I found your site interesting, especially as a brand new Rotarian. The only thing I’d question, without knowing ANY facts, is how much better would these people have been if the Rotarians had done NOTHING?”
Bill. (Not his real name)

Bill, not many will agree with your approach of doing charity work. If you are cheating with the IRS paying 100 dollars taxes instead of 1000 that your earnings show you owe, should the first be grateful to you that you paid 100 instead of nothing? The issue here is what their motivations were of “helping” the poor, how much money they received and how much they invested. Should we be grateful to them - the persons named above and below- that they are asking for a donation of a dollar to feed a hungry claiming that 97% is making it to the site but instead when you open this bag and count it contains only 20 cents of food? 
 
I have distributed hundreds and know what I’m talking about!..  So, to your opinion (and philosophy) we should applaud them for giving 20 cents instead of the 97% of what they said they were giving?  
 
 

 
He claims here (And in several other documents in my possession) that the administrator's cost is only 2.3%. to pay for his travel expenses and accommodations from Australia to the Philippines 5 times a year, numerous guests from AU, RI officials, board members his ex wife for travel and accommodation expenses all paid by a 2.3% budget from an annual income of $100,00.00 as Derek Pyrah claims here? I’ll leave the answer up to the readers.

-The second mail came from a respected long time Rotarian with a long and honorable record in the org. Let's name him "George" He wrote:

“If it is about money, be specific as to how the money actually flowed, and how it should have flowed. You don't need much more than that”.

Request granted “George”. Even though I have described often of what I’m accusing them let’s do it one more time in simple words, straight to the point. I’am accusing them of the following:

  1. Of defrauding Individuals, Rotarians, Clubs and organizations in Australia and elsewhere in the world  where the VAP leaders Derek Pyrah and Dave Collins mislead donors to contribute by misrepresenting their actions. An example  of this accusation can be seen by clicking here.They instructed donors to deposit money not in a RCT Club controlled bank account but on one they (Collins and treasurer PP Deo Dioscoro) had absolute control, the club having total ignorance of the existence of such account. Remember, Deo Dioscoro is the manager of the MeTRO BANK where the accounts were held. This is just an example. If interested you can read more inside this blog
  2. Of defrauding TRF of thousands of dollars by misrepresenting the use of the MG as follows: Dave Collins did not disclose to the foundation that he was the contractor-builder of all construction projects submitted for financing, instead he claimed that it was a construction company under the name of VALLES CONSTRUCTION in Tagbilaran Bohol that was hired for the job. There isn't such company under this name in the TRADES AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT database in Bohol. Here is the document proving my allegation: Click here to see a mail sent to many with the report attached. 


     


    Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.
    Evan ILIADIS - Diaries of a former Rotarian.

I’m asking again George; In virtue of what should  I exclude the fact that all medication purchased  did not reach the destination, free distribution to the poor that is, but instead were diverted to the shelves of his wife’s pharmacy for sale? Baby Collins is best known for her passion of changing her cell-phone weekly making sure she always uses the latest model and her European made wardrobe than her compassion for the poor… No one ever controlled the purchase and even less the destination.

They are claiming: "Oh yes! We have receipts!" What receipts? They are all in the name of her Pharmacy, together of what she buys for her business and for the Rotary. Any one has seen anything? Please, raise your hand…-

-Once I filled a request with my club  for opening an investigation as described above, the President formed an investigative committee to explore the allegations. They agreed with the Collins and PP Dioscoro on a number of meetings for discussion and were ordered to submit to the club the bank accounts “pass books” as they called in the Philippines the saving accounts booklets where all transactions are recorded. (I was wondering why they had not a checking account?). They refused, they disappeared, never attended investigation meetings neither regular meetings. "George, do you know any innocent behaving this way? If my allegations as submitted to the club AND to the RI were driven by malice due to a personal vendetta it would be easy for such powerful people to defeat them right on the start. Instead they felt comfortable under the fugitive’s blanket rather than take the time to explain." 

-The RI and the DG have been informed about the facts long time ago . Their inaction to this matter resulted not only to a "let it go" but encouraged them - the accused- to further accented an already ill and predatory behavior towards the local Rotary community. The RI has read this story here before. Take a look and let me know if this is relevant to the RI or not. 

Evan ILIADIS wrote this.

Rotary should cancel VAP founders' Derek Pytah and Dave Collins membership for unlawful and defamatory actions against another Rotary club. The RCUT. (Rotary Club of Upper Tagbilaran Bohol Philippines).

In Times when the District Governors are instructed by the Rotary to make the creation of new clubs and induction of new members their priority number 1, they were conspiring to derail the chartering of this club by spreading defamatory information about some of the members of the future club. They did it in the most unethical manner and means to discredit them, and they were close to succeed. They offered to sponsor them, in reality they were digging their grave. But thanks to their persistence, fighting, (Link goes to the wayback archive)  support and common sense of the then DG 3860 Evelyn Magno the RCUT survived the coup. Today, 2 years later this club enjoys the full recognition of the people of Bohol and the questionable support of the DG Yumi Espina. Read this, take a look in the photo and be the judge


What was behind this plot? The answer is: Fear, hate and greed. Collins had many reasons to fear the creation of this club composed 100% by Filipinos, relatively of young smen and intellectuals. (As opposed to the RCT where 10 out of 25 members are foreigners.) 

  - Fear of Rotarians who left the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran (after he and Baby worked hard to conspire for their leave, resignation or termination ) was afraid would join the new club and start firing revenge bullets on them. Why they worked for their termination? It was the sentence of every member who asked questions about their activities.  

 -Fear of discovery of the VAP crooked activities on the island. There are experienced engineers among the members of the RCUT. Should their chartering goes through, there will be somehow an interaction between the two only clubs in town. “ Go tell them that a dry toilet as they see it cost 300,000 pesos or 7,000 AU dollars! They will laugh at your face.

-Fear that Derek Pyrah will be forced to a more equitable MG support as he was forced to do with certain clubs in Cebu. “Hey, if you tell your supporters in AU you’re in partnership with district 3860 in the Philippines you better deliver. There are other clubs in the district as well, including the RCUT.  But it was out of the question Collins would collaborate with them. Collins paranoia hit the paroxysm when President Luella Bantol of the RCT not only kept inviting members, she was also visiting the RCUT.

Read the story as it was published at the local press. It tells it all. 


If the they can't find any wrong doing, then, they will have to review their members attitude, policies, morals and interpretation of what misbehavior is all about. Their inaction to this matter-again- was taken for granted by the accused and went out of control by harassing any one on their way. like asking the DG of district 3860 to order the closure of the RCT, If the they can't find any wrong doing, then, they will have to review their members attitude, policies, morals and interpretation of what misbehavior is all about. Their inaction to this matter-again- was taken for granted by the accused and went out of control by harassing any one on their way. like asking the DG of district 3860 to order the closure of the RCT,

When he said NO! they filled Libel charges against the PP Luela Bantol who was President during the events. And get this: Libel laws in the Philippines allow the complainant to file a Criminal or Civil case or both. They chose to file only civil charges asking 500K pesos each of the 3 complainants = about $10K- for damages. A fortune by Philippines cost of living standard. Yes George! right on the money! Do you know any judge in the world that has sentenced a Rotary President of doing her job? Consisting of canceling their membership for non payment of their dues and non attendance to the regular meetings for more than 6 months? Talk about misbehavior.. Harassment! harassment! harassment !... isn't it?


Finally this: This blog goes on now for more than a year, the same, or almost, facts are repeated over and again. Is this serving a purpose anymore? Yes and no. If it's the money aspect George you are more concerned is not an issue anymore, The money is gone, vanished, no one will ever be punished, this blog won't bring it back.After all as I wrote before it was just ....Rotary money... Now it's all about misbehavior. This has caused more harm than the embezzling of the money did.


Time has been kind to Collins. The club did not file any criminal charges against them as it should and they had plenty to go for. Instead, they chose to ignore them, happy to regain control of their club, finally! peace and order prevailed. They were hoping they (Collins) will leave them alone in their difficult task to rebuild club's reputation and expanding membership, they were doing a great job on both areas. Dave Collins, Derek Pyrah,John Van Laar and a few others had a different agenda.


 





City of Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines


Saturday, October 3, 2020

the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

THE  CASSATE DROUGHT RELIEF RIPOFF.

CORY ANNE VERGE FLIP-FLOPS AS A VAP MANAGER IN HER SECOND JOB.

the Cassate drought relief ripoff. Some time in the year 2006 Dave Collins and Derek Pyrah were unhappy that not enough money flows in the VAP account in the Philippines. This can be demonstrated in several mails exchanged I have in file. In these mails they are looking for ways to increase their income “for the poor and needy” out side the Rotary where apparently the collect didn’t work as they wanted to.
the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

The Matching Grand Applications to TRF were slow to produce, too bureaucratic for a Collins as anxious he can be. They decided to seek instant gratification by inventing a Darfour situation in the North of the island in a place named Ubay in the village of Cassate. Remember the golden rule:
he Cassate drought relief ripoff.

"Expand on an existing known problem where the people involved can be manipulated with strong emotion."the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

In that village living an American missionary form a church, or what ever the Christian denomination is, called Crossworld. I’ll call it an organization. Her organization built a camp there that building after building became a modern and a 30 hectares huge  place in the middle of the usual  Philippines decor, poverty, that is,  with no really clear purpose, other than in exchange of  some services to children they will have to study the Bible.  I visited the Karr camp – its name-  and interviewed Cory Anne  for the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran Web site since she was a member of this club. I did not really notice any particular compassion towards the poor and needy there; I even understood that there are instances where she had payable activities as well. the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

When Derek visited her camp he was very excited of  what he was seen, and I’m sure the first thing  he did is to take a look in the assets and numbers of her organization cross world.org that every one can consult online. But Collins was reluctant to nominate her “manager” fearing that this may lead to other preferences to his detriment. Eventually, she was nominated, and like any manager of the VAP was awarded the PHF. It was part of Derek’s strategy to show the donors how serious his org is and by whom is managed. But I never knew who was giving his!... May be he  was awarding himself…

Back to our Darfour project, it wasn’t an easy ride for the “brothers”. As you can read in the mails exchanged Cory Ann has been the Golden apple of discord once again, because Collins did not digest the direct contact Pyrah had with her without passing through him first. But that wasn’t the only disagreement they had. By reading line after line you’ll see they were looking for the best way to make it a real Darfour so donors can run to the rescue. Read and judge by yourself. the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

If exaggerated actions as these were common by the “brothers” I didn’t know that it was done  with the blessing of the “sister”. 

the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

 

 In effect, she new the whole scam. At first she wasn’t really in agreement with it, but after a second thought and some pressure she said the “I do”  Why? Collins and Pyrah couldn’t find any other place or a credible person as Cory was then to endorse the operation "Darfour" as a real critical situation “ that if we don’t act hundreds of children will die from starvation”. Starvation in the Philippines? Malnutrition, yes, except some isolated cases here and there no deaths of starvation ever recorded in the Philippines. As for her own benefit in this operation she gained something her church didn’t allow: A budget to maintain a day care feeding in Cassate, and also bring a child once in a while to a hospital “for the picture ” so the VAP can raise 100 times the money she spent.

The operation Cassate drought relief paid off: A lot of money was sent by many clubs, from Manila to Cebu, from the US Canada, Australia, corporations and individuals. Do you know what these children got? A plastic bag they named "bundle of joy" repeated in three deliveries. 

You know what a “bundle of joy” is? The one the children holding up "for the picture" A plastic bag containing I kilo of rice= 20 pesos in 2006, 2 cans of sardines = 10 pesos 1 pack of noodles = 5 pesos. Total per bag= 35 pesos = .70 cents of the US dollar  The pack of milk you see in the photo was donated by a corporation in Manila. There was only 200 children present which makes it 140 dollars per delivery but I’ll take Derek’s number that were 500 children. The cost goes to 350 dollars and I’ll take also Collins assertion that he made 5 deliveries and not 3 as I was told by other sources. This make the total cost of 1,750 dollars. How much they raised? No one knows. They instructed the donors to send the money here:

the Cassate drought relief ripoff. the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

To themselves, instead of the Rotary Club of Tagbilaran account. Cory Anne knew, because she was instructed also to direct donations –if any- to this account. But she still continues to collaborate with them. Shame on you!!! Look at the list at your left. It's only partial but brought more than 20,000 dollars in cash plus some goodies from corporations. From one club only in Hawaii they received $900.00 

 the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

Of-course, no such account bearing the name of RC of Tagbilaran existed. Collins pretended that he never received his mail. The truth is that he didn't know what to tell him about the account name. George did not understand what RWACS VAP account was, it didn't make sense to him and send it to RC of Tagbilaran / VAP and was rejected. I forwarded his mail to Collins and eventually the money was wired. To the RAWCS/VAP account.

That's where the donors were instructed to wire donations.Cory Anne knew that this was a rip-off, she was included as a recipient in this mail. She accepted the job. Look at this mail They instructed the donors to send to and account that the rotary Club of Tagbilaran had no idea of its existence

 the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

 ONE MORE THING To the RAWCS (Rotary Australia World Community Service) and particularly to Len Bolden former Chairman for the last 3 and half years and treasurer Jack Elliott: the Cassate drought relief ripoff.

Gentlemen, as you can read, they had –and probably still have it- an account named RAWCS /VAP in a bank in the Philippines with custodians Dave Collins and Dioscoro UY PP of RCT and manager of this bank. How one can open such an account in their names? To my knowledge, and the principle is the same all over the world, to open a corporate account the bank requires corporation constitution documents, directors, manager and more. Have you authorized Collins and Uy to use your entity for the opening of a bank account under the name of RAWCS? He - Derek Pyrah - was directing them to a similar account to his web site until removed. My revelations obliged…. the Cassate drought relief ripoff.


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