Abogado resigns as UST athletic director amid probe, De Sagon back in post

FILE – UAAP president Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Fr. Jannel Abogado, University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) athletic director, stepped down on Wednesday morning, just hours before the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ (IATF-EID) second meeting on the Growling Tigers’ alleged breach of quarantine guidelines.

Abogado figured under the microscope shortly after the university allegedly held training sessions in a bubble-like environment at a facility owned by head coach Aldin Ayo in his hometown of Sorsogon.

Fr. Ermito G. de Sagon, OP, who previously served UST’s Institute of Physical Education and Athletics for 16 years before Abogado’s appointment in 2017, is named as replacement.

The development was confirmed by The Varsitarian, UST’s official student publication.

Abogado has yet to respond to the Inquirer’s numerous requests for comment.

It could be recalled that De Sagon led the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ (UAAP) probe into De La Salle University men’s basketball team’s eligibility violations from 2003 through 2006, which eventually led to the suspension of the school across all events in Season 69.

La Salle will be the host for the upcoming UAAP season.

The IATF’s Joint Administrative Group consisting of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Department of Health, and the Games and Amusements Board, is set to meet with the UAAP at 1 p.m. Wednesday as the league reports on UST’s findings from its internal probe.

UST has since issued a statement on the training in question, and assured that it will be taking “appropriate action.”

Ayo, for his part, also broke his silence over the weekend, but neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a bubble. He instead said that he has been cooperating with the university in its investigation.