Besides potential administrative cases, University of Santo Tomas and its head coach Aldin Ayo might face civil raps as well.
The Joint Administrative Order group for sports is set to submit its report regarding the ongoing investigation of the Growling Tigers’ Bicol bubble to the Department of Justice on Monday.
The JAO group — consisting of the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusement Board, and Department of Health — discussed the report submitted by UST in a meeting held Friday morning.
“Nasa kanila na ‘yun. Sila ‘yung reinforcement e, kami naman policy lang as the JAO group. Si DOJ can do their own investigation with the help of the NBI,” said Games and Amusement Board chairman Baham Mitra, as PSC Chairman Butch Ramirez, CHED Chairman Popoy de Vera, and Rodley Carza of DOH were all present in the meeting as well.
Based on the internal investigation of UST, it found potential breaches in two guidelines set by the Inter-agency Task Force.
First is “The movement of all persons in areas placed under GCQ shall be limited to accessing essential goods and services, and for work in the offices or industries permitted to operate hereunder. Provided, that movement for leisure purposes shall not be allowed.”
Second is that “Any person below twenty-one (21) years old, those who are sixty (60) years old and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women, including any person who resides with the aforementioned, shall be required to remain in their residences at all times, except when indispensable under the circumstances for obtaining essential goods and services or for work in permitted industries and offices.”
From June 17 to July 29, 17 members of the Growling Tigers went from NCR to Sorsogon. NCR was under GCQ during that time, while Sorsogon was under MGCQ until June 30.
Eleven of the 17 players were below 21 years of age.
Moreover, non-professional teams have yet to be cleared to go back to training during that time.
Currently, Growling Tigers head coach Aldin Ayo may also face sanctions from the UAAP. This was the recommendation by the Board of Managing Directors to the league’s Board of Trustees.
