Former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers men's basketball coach Aldin Ayo did nothing wrong when he and his team held a training camp in Capuy, Sorsogon last June.
This is the finding of the Office of the Governor and police authorities in Sorsogon, 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 Gov. Francis Escudero, in a memo issued last Monday, said he is in agreement with the probers from the Philippine National Police.
According to the police, “there is a clear exhibition of legitimate activities undertaken by former UST Head Coach Aldin Ayo.”
“Actions by former head coach Aldin Ayo are 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," said the police.
Probers said they found no signs of training activities outside of Ayo's residence in Capuy, Sorsogon, and within the jurisdiction of the province.
Because of this, Escudero wrote that he is clearing Ayo of any liability.
Police investigators informed Escudero's office of their finding last Sept. 23.
The incident report of the Philippine National Police also stated that the Sorsogon City government has issued a certificate of acceptance for the players dated June 26 and July 22.
The police said in their report that the "bubble focused mainly on agricultural activities—not basketball training.”
The dispatch added that “only when not engaged in farm work were players allowed to conduct individual training and not team practice as previously alleged by CJ Cansino.”
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 due to the coronavirus pandemic. ”