THE UAAP respects the decision of swimmer Anna Bartolome to take her case to the court and challenge the league’s two-year residency rule on high school graduates transferring to another member school.
In a statement, the league said legal counsel Rene Villa will be handling the case after Bartolome asked the court to intervene on her behalf after failing to get a release from University of Santo Tomas after her decision to transfer to University of the Philippines.
Through her father Vic, a former basketball referee, Bartolome sought a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and the eventual junking of the two-year residency rule applied on transferring high school graduates by filing the case at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.
The case came in the heels of a 20-day TRO obtained by the parents of University of the Philippines Integrated School’s Jozhua General following a decision by the UAAP to declare the junior player ineligible.
“Just like Joshua General’s case (who also secured a TRO on his disqualification), the UAAP would be respecting the steps undertaken by the swimmer’s father and honor the orders of the court,” part of the UAAP statement read.
“And because a legal case has been filed, the UAAP legal counsel, Atty. Rene Ma. Villa, takes over the handling of the issue,” the statement added.
The league also said the UAAP board led by secretary treasurer Malou Isip will abide by the advice of Villa.
“Atty. Villa would only be discussing the merits of the case after Monday’s hearing. Similarly, the UAAP Board, specifically Ms. Malou Isip, would abide by their legal counsel’s advice,” added the league.
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