In a move resulting from the hasty departure of the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Network of Positive Advocates of the Philippines, Inc. (also known as the Network Plus Philippines or N+), one of the oldest HIV organizations in the Philippines, the Positive Action Foundation, Inc. (PAFPI) released a statement to distance itself from the troubled group.
It can be remembered that the recently-elected Chairperson of the Board of Trustees hastily resigned after only approximately two months in the post, alleging that N+ lacks independence, is grossly mismanaged (and has issues with ineptitude, and malversation within), and has a “willingness to turn a blind eye to these issues for the sake of maintaining a positive public image.”
This was eventually followed by the dumping of N+ of eight Visayas-based organizations, which decided to “break away from the network” as it, instead, eyes to independently “embark on a new journey”.
This time around, PAFPI saw fit to release a letter to stress that it “has never been a member of (N+).”
“Our organization has never sent any representative to attend their meeting or to represent PAFPI in any capacity,” stated the letter that was signed by Joshua C.T. Formentera, Jr., PAFPI’s chairperson emeritus.
PAFPI’s statement adds to the N+ issue since – according to a source who asked to remain unnamed – the organization currently has three so-called technical advisers; allegedly, no board resolution could be produced related to their roles, so that the risk of outside influence (e.g. non-PLHIV) increasing.
Acknowledging that N+ may have a role in unifying the HIV organizations in the Philippines, PAFPI had to reiterate that it has “not been formally affiliated with them”.
N+ claimed to be composed of 40 organizations led by persons living with HIV, though no figure has been released recently to account for the departures from the network. – WITH STEPHEN CHRISTIAN P. QUILACIO
