VILLAGE AIDE PROGRAM diaries of a former Rotarian and volunteer in the Philippines

Dear reader. In the last few days I was flooded with mail coming from new visitors both positive -mean supportive- and negative, meaning Rotarians who disagreed with me of making public this story as being only a few bad apples' actions. Others - mostly new comers to my site could not understand what all this fuse is about - as opposed to regular readers who followed the sequence of events page after page, update after update. A great number of new readers asking me to be more specific as to whom I'm accusing and for what. I couldn't agree more to their request for clarification, I decided to postpone the next update and instead make it clear who did what, why and when.

First, 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 in 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.

In 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.

Back in 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 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. Click here to see it.

- A detailed cost and bidding documents for all construction projects financed by the RI as required under the terms and conditions or the TRF including Waterless 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!

“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’am 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? Click and scroll to see the highlighted portions. He claims here (And in several other documents in my possession) that the admin 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.

“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’am accusing them let’s do it one more time in simple words, straight to the point. I’am accusing them of the following:

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
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 data base in Bohol. Here is the document proving my allegation: Click here to see a mail sent to many with the report attached.
Most important, the report is here

I’am 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 claming: "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. If the last 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.

This blog will go on in the same way and style as it started. I want to let know the gerontocracy governing the Rotary- in an obsolete way for now days - that I'm not expecting their sympathy or changes in their way of unmasking crooks and criminals within the Rotary - as limited their number may be. Dave Collins has been the cruelest defamator to Rotarians and others, he squeezed the funds from his club, go unpunished, now he's filling libel charges against the president trying to extort money from her. All these under the total indifference of the RI pressured by some top guns as high as DGs and PDGs each of them for different reasons, including some are owners of a charity business themselves.