JRU’s John Amores. –NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – City of Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua on Wednesday urged the Philippine National Police (PNP) to investigate the on-court brawl instigated by Jose Rizal University (JRU)
Heavy Bombers’ John Amores in their game against the De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) Blazers in San Juan City last Tuesday.
In the fourth quarter, Amores went on a punching and shoving spree, charging the Blazers’ bench and knocking out a number of rival cagers.
READ: NCAA: John Amores throws punches as CSB-JRU game halted after ugly brawl
“The San Juan City PNP should investigate yesterday’s violent incident during the NCAA game between the basketball teams of the College of St. Benilde and Jose Rizal University. This is a police matter—a matter of public order and security at a public venue,” Chua said in a statement.
He also suggested that guidelines be established on when and how police can intervene at sporting events.
“If the law was followed strictly, the San Juan PNP personnel on duty at the venue should have immediately arrested John Amores there and then, or citizen’s arrest should have been done. It seems neither happened,” Chua added.
The lawmaker then sought help from the mayors in the areas where sports tournaments are frequently held to ensure that local police officers are deployed to secure these events.
The lawmaker sought help from the mayors of cities that often host sports competitions to help coordinate the deployment of police officers to protect these events.
“The PNP should be there also for crowd control and should be supervising the private security personnel deployed at the venues,” he said.
PNP ready to assist
PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said they are open to investigating Amores’ outburst during the JRU-CSB game, but that a private complaint has to be filed first.
“Kailangan natin na may personal na mag-appear sa atin na complainant na magsasabi na siya ay binugbog, siya ay sinuntok, nagtamo siya ng physical injuries dahil ito ay personal offense at kailangan po natin ng private complainant para maisampa po natin iyong kaso,” she told Inquirer.net over the phone.
(We need complainants who will personally claim that they were beaten up, and punched and that they sustained physical injuries since this is a personal offense and we need a private complainant to file this case.)
“The PNP is ready to provide police assistance doon sa mga nasaktan and iyong station po kung saan nangyari po iyong pananakit na po na iyon, willing naman po. In fact, meron naman tayong mga police na present po sa game, as we normally do, na nag-po-provide ng assistance,” she said.
(The PNP is ready to provide police assistance to those who were harmed and the station where the violent incident happened is also willing. In fact, there were police officers present in the game to provide assistance.)
Fajardo pointed out that the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is already dealing with Amores’ on-court rampage.
But should the NCAA deem it necessary to file complaints against the basketball player, she said “the PNP is ready to receive those complaints and file the necessary cases against those responsible for that scuffle.”
Amores, who has been placed under indefinite suspension from all NCAA activities, has previously been involved in a similar incident when he assaulted University of the Philippines’ Mark Gil Belmonte during a summer league basketball game last July.
READ: NCAA: John Amores slapped with an indefinite ban after rampage