MANILA – Sports teams that are violating the community quarantine guidelines by conducting practices or playing games could be punished, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
Roque’s statement came after it was reported that some basketball and volleyball teams were conducting practices even if it is not yet allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.
“‘Yung mga lalabag sa palantuntunan na hindi pa pinapayagan ang pag-e-ensayo o paglalaro ng contact sports ay pupuwedeng makasuhan para sa disobedience to lawful orders,” Roque said.
The Palace spokesperson added that, while the IATF-EID has no provisions for penalty, violators could be slapped with punishment of detention under the Revised Penal Code.
The IATF-EID has recently allowed Philippine Basketball Association and Philippines Football League to practice without playing or holding scrimmages but the guidelines for practice return has yet to be released.
Recently caught violators were Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings center Japeth Aguilar and Rain or Shine Elasto Painters rookie Adrian Wong, who were each slapped with fines by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.
PBA team Blackwater Elite was also hit with P100,000-fine for practicing ahead of the other teams without notifying the league./PN
