PBA player John Amores yields after shooting incident

MANILA, Philippines — PBA player John Amores on Thursday, September 26, surrendered to the authorities after his involvement in a shooting incident in Laguna on September 25. 

His surrender was confirmed by Lumban Municipal police station to Philstar.com but they did not divulge further details. 

According to a GMA News report, Amores surrendered to the authorities due to threats to his life. 

"Nag-voluntary surrender po siya sa ating station at dahil.. nagkakaroon ng threat sa kanilang buhay. Sa kanilang pareho. Iyon lang po ang napagdesisyunan nila na natatakot na sila sa kanilang seguridad," Police Major Bob Ortiz, chief of the Lumban Municipal Police Station, according to a GMA news report. 

(He voluntarily surrendered at our station because... they were receiving threats to their lives. That was their decision because they were worried about their safety.)

 Meanwhile, a separate report from the Philippine National Police said that Amores surrendered with his brother.

Additionally, the firearm used by the suspect, Amores, has not been recovered.

He claimed that in his state of extreme panic, he could not recall where he had disposed of the weapon, according to the separate police report. 

The Northport Batang Pier guard is facing a charge of attempted murder and will undergo an inquest proceeding before a provincial prosecutor in Laguna on Thursday. 

What happened

The altercation began during a basketball game along Barangay Salac in Lumban on Wednesday.

According to multiple reports, the basketball game escalated into a conflict after a disagreement on a foul call. 

After the game, a CCTV video released by the Lumban police showed that Amores, riding a motorcycle with his brother chased the victim, Lee Calcada. 

Amores and his brother chased Calcada until they stopped in Barangay Maytalang Uno where Amores alighted from the motorcycle and shot Calcada. 

The latter, however, did not sustain any injuries. Amores ran afterward the shooting incident. 

In a report by ABS-CBN news, the victim’s mother, Shirley Calcada said that she will pursue the case against the PBA guard. 

“Sa halagang apat na libo papatayin niya ang anak ko? Hindi ako papayag!” she said.

(For four thousand pesos, he's going to kill my son? I won't allow it!)

“Itutuloy ko ‘yan (the case), bibigyan ko ng kadalaan ‘yan kasi hambog ‘yan,” the matriarch added. 

(I will pursue that case, and I'll make sure he’ll remember because he's arrogant.)

Incident of Amores before his PBA stint

This is not the first time Amores was involved in an altercation.

Two years ago, prior to his PBA career, Amores ran amok in a game between his school, Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers and the College of Saint Benilde (CSB) for the NCAA.

This resulted in his suspension from the league and has been banned from JRU. 

After the altercation, the CSB players who was hit by Amores filed a case of multiple physical injuries against him before a San Juan prosecutor. 

He joined the PBA during its 48th season and was picked by the Northport Batang Pier as the 51st overall pick. 

Meanwhile, in a statement, PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said that the league was “saddened” by the shooting incident.

“This is a matter subject of investigation by the police, and we cannot comment in it. But we are saddened by such an unfortunate incident,” Marcial said in a statement. 

Amores plays for the Northport Batang Pier in the PBA. He averages 5.1 points and 1.6 rebounds. He also shot 18 out of 37 from within which include seven three point shots and two four point shots. — with reports from Ralph Edwin Villanueva