Putting together a tournament during the general community quarantine (GCQ) has pushed the Alabang Country Club and Club 515 in a tight spot, with their case now in the hands of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, the body that will levy a decision.
“Our group has forwarded it to the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease) and the National Task Force was already given instructions to implement the decision. I am not at liberty to disclose it,’’ Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chair Abraham Mitra said.
The government is serious in implementing the rules in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as evidenced by the penalty imposed against Sherwood Golf and Country Club in Trece Martires City, Cavite, early this week.
Cavite Gov. Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla ordered the indefinite closure of Sherwood Golf and Country Club for holding an unauthorized tournament.
Under General Guidelines No. 3 of the Joint Administrative Order No. 2020-0001, nonprofessional sporting events such as tournaments, competitive events and athletic meets shall not be permitted on certain quarantine levels.
“At this time of pandemic we are governed by rules that are made to make us all safe. We urge everyone to abide by it. The joint admin order of the GAB, [Philippine Sports Committee] and [Departmemt of Health] is the document that governs the conduct of sporting activities and we plead to everyone to follow it,’’ Mitra said.
Club 515 supposedly organized the 14th Pemcor Cup, an intra-club meet, at Alabang Country Club on Aug. 28-29 when Metro Manila was still under GCQ.
“We will be open to any dialogue for possible amendments to accommodate reasonable requests,’’ Mitra said. “We don’t want any transmission [of the virus] happening in any sport as it may affect us all.’’