By ELLSON QUISMORIO
Collegiate coaches beware.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon City 3rd Rep. Franz Pumaren said Monday, Nov. 14 that coaches who tolerate violent behavior of their student-athletes should also be penalized.
The many-time UAAP champion coach expressed his disgust over the brawl triggered by John Amores of Jose Rizal University who rushed to the bench of College of St. Benilde like a man possessed and punched several players to the shock of entire basketball community.
That happened on Nov. 8 in a San Juan City gym during an NCAA game.
What’s worse according to Pumaren is that the particular JRU cager had been involved in two other incidents within the previous five months wherein he showed tendencies of being violent.
In his interpellation of the privilege speech, Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. asked Pumaren if he agreed that coaches should also be equally liable and given corresponding penalties.
“I 100 percent agree with that because they’re (coaches) the ones who are supposed to be making sure that everybody’s mentally fit and they shoudl be the one conducting those disciplinary actions,” said the former La Salle mentor.
School officials should also intervene once they see “red flags”, according to Pumaren.
“[At] the same time, if there is already a signal or a red flag already that the coaches are tolerating those kinds of behaviors, I think the school officials should call the attention of the coaches.”
