Learning how to raise pigs and do farming activities, and not basketball training done under a low risk area, comprised most of the tasks of members of the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers at a camp in Capuy, Sorsogon last June.
These are among the findings of police authorities when they investigated the allegations surrounding the presence of team members in the province three months ago.
Police Senior Master Sergeant Jungie Vito said this in his report on former Growling Tigers men’s basketball coach Aldin Ayo when he brought the squad members to his hometown.
Vito’s finding was submitted last Sept. 23 to Sorsogon City police chief, Lt. Col. Benito Dipad Jr.
“Evidence showed that Mr. Aldin Ayo’s guests stayed in his residence, and had training on piggery and farming in Capuy, West District,” wrote Vito.
The tasks that squad members undertook went under scrutiny because Sorsogon was under modified general community quarantine at that time. Sports activities were allowed at that time.
And when the team went there, the province of Sorsogon was considered a low-risk locale.
The findings of Vito became the reason why Sorsogon officials and the police found nothing wrong when Ayo and the team visited the province last June.
Because of this Office of the Governor and police authorities in Sorsogon decided to absolve Ayo of any unlawful act.
The findings came out three weeks after Ayo resigned from his post, and the board of directors of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines indefinitely banned him.
Sorsogon governor Francis Escudero, in a memo issued last Monday, said he agrees with the findings of probers from the Philippine National Police.
According to police investigations, “there is a clear exhibition of legitimate activities undertaken by former UST Head Coach Aldin Ayo.”
“Actions performance by former head coach Aldin Ayo is in accordance with the health protocol and guidelines as per existing Interagency Task Force the Management of Infectious Diseases, and that there was no UST-sanctioned team basketball training conducted in the domicile,” of Ayo.
Because of this, Escudero wrote that he is clearing Ayo of any liability.
Three weeks ago, the UAAP board cited UST’s finding that Ayo “endangered the health and well-being of the student-athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of emergency.”
Ayo’s case and that of the training camp of the team is now in the hands of the Department of Justice.
The case was turned over to the DOJ by the Joint Administrative Order Group of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Games and Amusement Board and the Department of Health.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said they will review the report of the Sorsogon City police.
