SEN. Pia Cayetano lambasted the UAAP for the latest update to its residency rules, which is, in her view, still in violation of a law that protects student-athletes she herself authored.
The UAAP recently made revisions to its inter-league movement guidelines starting Season 87 where a transferee from one member-school to another will also lose one year of eligibility on top of the one-year sit-out period from the time the student-athlete switches universities.
READ: UAAP hands down rule stripping transferees of additional year of eligibility
But Cayetano rued the new rule, citing the law, specifically Section 5 of Republic Act 10676. For her, the Student-Athletes Protection Act is very clear that no other residency rules should be imposed aside from what’s in the law.
“Sinabi na 'di ba? A maximum of one year residency may be imposed before maka-represent sa athletic competition. So bawal ang ibang klaseng residency requirement. Ano ba ‘yung hindi naiintindihan diyan?” said Cayetano at the sidelines of the groundbreaking ceremony of the seven-storey athletes dormitory set to be constructed at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Don't punish the athletes, Cayetano reiterates
Cayetano acknowledged that the UAAP rule is in place to protect its member-schools from poaching, but urged the collegiate league to address it in different way.
“I understand na may issue kayo na pina-pirate ‘yung athletes niyo. Then solve it in an adult way. Don’t punish the kids. Don’t punish the athletes,” said Cayetano.
“Kung ano naman ‘yung gusto ninyo gawin sa mga athletes, very open naman tayo. Pero ang ‘wag na ‘wag niyong gagawin ay paparusahan niyo ang athletes dahil sa pagpa-pirate. If somebody is violating the rules on piracy, then ‘yun ‘yung violation niya. But don’t punish the athlete,” added the senator.
Just as before, Cayetano expressed there are valid reasons for student-athletes to switch schools, one of which is for them to reach their true potential.
“There are many reasons that an athlete will desire to move universities, hindi lang dahil pinirate siya na may mas magandang offer na commercial value. Paano kung hindi niya kasundo ‘yung teammates niya, nangyayari po ‘yun, or hindi sila belong," she said.
"That’s a valid reason to move. Paano kung napakalayo ‘yung school mo sa tinitirhan mo? Paano kung may top three players na sila sa position, ika-fourth ka, wala ka bang karapatan para lumipat ng school?”
READ: Padrigao? Remogat? Amos? Who's affected by UAAP's new internal transfer rules?
Cayeteno said she is open for a dialogue with the UAAP to discuss the matter in a hearing.
“Kung mali ‘yung intindi ko, by all means clarify it. Kung hindi mali ang pagkaintindi ko, ano pa ang pag-uusapan namin? Papatawag ko na lang (sila) sa hearing and they are violating the law. They should be prepared for that. I’m very open. But let’s not waste each other’s time,” said Cayetano.
UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag previously said they are prepared to defend the league's new residency rules once they are called to do so.
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