Possible sanctions on UST loom as JAO-CHED sends report to IATF


Aldin Ayo
UST Tigers coach Aldin Ayo (UAAP)

Officials of the Joint Administrative Order Group and Commission on Higher Education have agreed to submit a report to the Inter-Agency Task Force on possible sanctions of the University of Santo Tomas when its men’s basketball team reportedly conducted a training bubble in Sorsogon during quarantine.

The tripartite group of Games and Amusements Board, Philippine Sports Commission and Department of Health met with CHED on Friday and discussed the submitted report of the university on its internal investigation on the alleged “training bubble.”

READ: JAO Group to submit report to DOJ on UST training bubble

Last Tuesday, UAAP officials and UST representatives composed of two lawyers met with the JAO Group and CHED to submit the school’s internal probe findings.

UST formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the controversy, but only furnished copies of their findings to DOH and CHED.

The school has been at the center of controversy after its men’s basketball team allegedly violated government health protocols by conducting a training camp, leading to the departure of its five players and the resignation of athletic director Fr Jannel Abogado.

On Thursday, sources said the UAAP Board of Managing Directors has recommended sanctioning UST men’s basketball team coach Aldin Ayo for being allegedly responsible for the “Sorsogon bubble” after a three-hour meeting.

It was not clear if the sanction would be a suspension or a ban.

In a statement, the UAAP Board of Managing Directors said their recommendations to the Board of Trustees cannot be made public at the moment “out of respect to the member-school concerned and the decision-making process of the BOT.”

“Following a lengthy discussion, the UAAP BMD drafted its recommendations, which will be submitted to the UAAP Board of Trustees for review and approval,” the statement read.

Reports were also circulating that Ayo is tending his resignation amid the controversy, but nothing is yet official.