Photos and videos have circulated on social media sites last Friday which showed Growling Tigers holding their training in a certain ABC Ideas Gymnasium, the same training facility where the team holds its offseason training.

The training facility was located at Sorsogon City in Bicol Province which was said to be Coach Aldin Ayo’s residence.

On Saturday, Joint Administrative Order (JAO) group composed of Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Games and Amusements Board (GAB), and Department of Health (DOH), discussed the alleged violation of protocols of the practice session of the Growling Tigers together with the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the concerned university.

UST, however, declined to join the meeting and said to conduct its investigation regarding the matter. “We were informed that UST created a fact-finding committee to look into the matter and meantime asked to be excused from the proceedings,” Atty. Rebo Saguisag, UAAP Executive Director shared.

JAO No. 2020-0001 Guidelines on the Conduct of Health-Enhancing Physical Activities and Sports during the COVID-19 Pandemic approved by the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) only allowed the resumption of training and conditioning sessions of basketball and football professional teams under areas granted with a lesser risk of virus exposure starting July 27.

Recreational and contact non-professional contact sports activities will remain temporarily suspended until an effective vaccine for COVID-19 is developed.

The agencies agreed to convene again on Wednesday hoping that investigation were all cleared and UST will be able to release their statement regarding the issue.

“All agencies agreed to wait for the report of UST,” Saguisag ended his statement.