THE UAAP Board appears divided on how to deal with the sanction to be meted on University of Santo Tomas if indeed, the school is found guilty of violating government protocols at this time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Various measures ranging from a stiff fine to as worse as suspension for an entire season were among those informally mentioned by top officials of the seven other member schools pending the result of the internal probe conducted by the 400-year-old institution on the alleged bubble training for its men’s basketball team in Sorsogon.
Newly-named Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director Fr. Ermito de Sagon was scheduled to report to the Board on Friday the supposed finding of the investigation.
“Ang UAAP Board naghihintay lang sila kung ano ang magiging personal na pananaw ng isang institusyon na respetado katulad ng UST,” said one of the top decision makers of a member school, who refused to be named.
The official said one school has an open-minded take on the issue, suggesting that a severe fine could be meted on one of the founding members of the 82-year-old collegiate league.
Suspensions could be added along the way but only on individual personalities.
“Kung magsu-suspinde, it should boil down to individuals. Who made the decisions?” asked the official. “In other words, command responsibility. Up to what level yung desisyon na yun?”
The source added, there are officials who believe the players should be spared from being sanctioned.
“Yung mga players are like soldiers, sumusunod lang ang mga yan. Inutusan lang na pumunta roon, (na ayaw nga). They should be spared,” said the same official.
But there are also those who are pushing for a longer UST suspension of two years since it not only exposed intention of getting an advantage over the other member schools, but likewise defying government imposed-protocols where non-pro athletes are not allowed from conducting team training.
“May mga nag-i-isip ng ganyan. Yung mga hard core two years,” stressed the source.
There are precedents in UAAP history after all, the latest in memory was in 2006 when the college league suspended La Salle for unknowingly fielding in two ineligible players. The Taft-based school offered its men’s basketball team to file a one-year leave of absence, but the Board voted to have the university suspended in all sports for one year.
“UAAP suspended La Salle in all sports for one year. Mabigat yun. Remember that case?” said the source.
And there are loose talks, according to the same official, the eligibility of the players involved could be affected.
“E, sino pang matitira sa UST?” said the source, hoping that no sanction as worse as this should happen.
Although the issue is a sensitive one - which already saw Fr. Jannel Abogado stepping down from his post as IPEA director when the controversy erupted – the same official is also wondering why it took the Espana-based school long to act on the matter, which appeared to have gone out of control as of late.
“Sobrang tagal. At habang tumatagal, lalong dumadami ang sumasawsaw. Nagsanga-sanga na,” said the source.
Both UAAP and UST officials will present the result of the probe on Tuesday to the government panel empowered to oversee any possible violations of government protocols. The body is composed of representatives of the Department of Health (DoH), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), and the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).
GAB chairman Abraham Mitra has said the body agreed to let UAAP study the findings of the UAAP probe and impose sanctions, before the government agencies step in.
The former congressman and Palawan governor said it was exactly the same procedure his office did in investigating the premature practice conducted by Blackwater in which the PBA did its own internal probe and later on, imposed corresponding sanctions.
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