Support for the reinstatement of Aldin Ayo as head coach of the University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball team is snowballing.
Sympathy for Ayo came after the Office of the Governor and police authorities in Sorsogon cleared him of any unlawful acts two weeks ago.
Sources said school officials at UST are now backing Ayo’s appeal to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines to lift its indefinite ban on him.
School officials have already endorsed the letter of appeal that Ayo wrote.
School authorities believe “that the penalty imposed by the esteemed UAAP board (was) too harsh.”
And Ayo’s plea is now “subject to the qualification that it stands by the report of its fact-finding committee,” according to an official source.
Ayo was cleared by Sorsogon governor Francis Escudero, in a memo issued on Sept. 23 which said he is in agreement with the findings of probers from the Philippine National Police.
“The result of the investigation conducted by proper government authorities, the PNP, on the ground, at my house and farm, will certainly complement my position on the matter,” wrote Ayo.
Ayo said he felt vindicated after police investigators found that, “there is a clear exhibition of legitimate activities undertaken by former UST Head Coach Aldin Ayo.”
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.
Police authorities disclosed that members of the team learned how to raise pigs and do farming activities, and not basketball training done under a low risk area
And this comprised most of the tasks that members of the UST Growling Tigers did when they held a camp in Capuy, Sorsogon last June.
Ayo is grateful that the PNP went to his home to find out exactly what took place during those times.