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The Department of Justice (DoJ) will be the lead government agency to bring a case against Santo Tomas University if the school is found guilty of violating quarantine protocols with its secret training at Capuy, Sorsogon.
The Chairman of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), Baham Mitra, explained that the Department of Justice has the power to investigate with the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), unlike the IATF (Interagency Task Force on emerging infectious diseases).
“The IATF is a policy-making body, while the Justice Department can conduct an investigation,” Mitra said Friday. “If they (DoJ) find them guilty, yes (they will file a case). And the DoJ is a member of the IATF ”.
Mitra made the clarification after the Joint Administrative Order Group (JAO) meeting with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Friday to discuss possible UST violations of quarantine protocols drawn up by a panel made up of the GAB. , Health Department. and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The group will submit a written report of its findings to the Justice Department next week.
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Along with Mitra, PSC President William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, Rodley Carza from DoH and CHED President Popoy De Vera were also present at the meeting.
Ironically, both the DoH and CHED are also members of the IATF, with the secretary of health serving as chair of the Task Force.
Mitra declined to discuss what the outcome of UST’s internal investigation was, as among JAO members, only the DoH received a copy of the investigation, citing data privacy law.
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But a source said some IATF members were offended when the UST sent two lawyers to present the results of their investigation into the ‘Sorsogon bubble’ to UAAP officials and the JAO panel.
The pontifical school was represented by legal counsel Atty. Alfonso Verzosa and Atty. Elgin Michael Pérez.
In contrast, the National University, which is also under the microscope for allegedly conducting premature training with its women’s volleyball team, was represented by sports director Otie Camangian.
During the meeting of the UAAP Board of Directors, news emerged of a possible ban or suspension against Ayo by the collegiate league, although a possible sanction against UST was hardly mentioned.
The Directors of Management have also sent their recommendation to the UAAP Board of Trustees, made up of the presidents of the eighth member schools.
Mitra said he cannot speak for the UAAP if he only plans to sanction Ayo and not the entire university.
But he does not want to speculate whether the collegiate body will save itself from the IATF or not if it refuses to take action against the UST.
“Let’s see,” Mitra said, noting that the UN has not yet submitted its official report on the alleged secret training of its women’s volleyball team.
