For holding training activities without getting the proper go-signal from concerned authorities, former University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers coach Aldin Ayo will be indefinitely banned from activities sanctioned by the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The Board of Trustees of the UAAP came up with a decision on Wednesday after reviewing the recommendations of the Board of Managing Directors.
In a statement, officials of the BOT said the advisory “was based on the report submitted by UST, which investigated the alleged training bubble of its basketball team in Capuy, Sorsogon.”
“After a thorough deliberation, the UAAP BOT ratified the decision of the BMD to ban coach Aldin Ayo indefinitely from participating, in any capacity, in all UAAP events and UAAP sanctioned-activities,” members of the board added in their declaration.
The resolution to prohibit Ayo is based on an internal report collated by UST officials following an internal investigation two weeks ago.
The account, which the UST legal team submitted last week to the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Health, “showed Ayo endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge when he conducted the training during a government-declared state of public emergency intended to arrest the COVID-19 outbreak.”
Since the submission of the UST report last week, Ayo has stepped down from his post as UST mentor. He was joined by assistant coaches McJour Luib and Jinino Manansala.
The BOT said that the league takes note of the CHED holding its own investigation on possible violations by UST.
And this will include other individuals who may also be liable in the conduct of the training activity.
The decision of the BOT comes two days after a Technical Working Group was formed by the CHED last Monday.
The TWG, which will be led by CHED executive director Cindy Jaro, has been formed to draft recommendations that will make it possible for varsity players from different disciplines to resume training.
Executive Director Rebo Saguisag and Far Eastern University Athletics Director Mark Molina later joined the TWG.
Under the guidelines that are being crafted, workouts for student-athletes aged 21-years-and-below in general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine areas will be allowed.
The formation of the TWG comes after the JAO group wrapped up its inquiry on the Growling Tigers men’s basketball team and the National University women’s volleyball squad.
The JAO group has brought their findings to the Department of Justice and the Department of Interior and Local Government, also last Monday.
In the report that was submitted by UST’s legal team, the JAO group learned that UST’s Athletic Director Fr. Jannel Abogado, at first, refused to approve Ayo’s request for a training camp in his home province of Sorsogon.
According to accounts, Ayo came back a week later, with the players giving their consent “since they had nothing to do in their hometowns.”
It is now up to the DOJ to issue a show-cause order demanding UST officials to explain why its officials should not be sanctioned.
Similar actions will also be done to the NU, after its women’s volleyball team held a training session in Laguna.