MANILA, Philippines — Humingi ng dispensa sa Games and Ammusement Board (GAB) ang Filipino billiards icon na si Efren "Bata" Reyes matapos masita ng Philippine National Police (PNP) kaugnay ng ilang paglabag sa health protocols nitong nakaraang linggo sa probinsya ng Laguna.
Ika-11 ng Marso nang dalhin siya ng San Pedro PNP sa baranggay matapos ipahinto ang kanyang "exhibition pool game" — bagay na nauwi raw sa paglabag ng coronavirus disease (COVID-19) safety measures.
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"I am deeply sorry for what happened. I don't have control over the situation and the people around the vicinity," ani Reyes, 66-anyos, kay GAB chairperson Baham Mitra, Martes.
"I, myself, was well aware of the safety protocols so that I will not acquire this virus and I am hoping and praying for everyone's safety."
Ang naturang paumanhin ay ipinaskil mismo ni Mitra sa kanyang Twitter acount ngayong araw.
Efren Bata Reyes letter to GAB pic.twitter.com/554p6rRWJW
— Abraham (@bahammitra) March 16, 2021
Giit pa ng sports legend, inabisuhan niya ang nag-imbita sa kanya na humingi ng permiso sa local government unit o kapitan ng baranggay para maiwasan ang gusot. Ayos naman daw ang lahat noong simula hanggang magkagulo na ang publikong dumalo para manuod.
"The barangay captain was aware of the event, he reminded them to follow rules. He kept on reminding the people watching the game to observe social distancing and follow the safety procools (e.g. wearing face mask and face shield)," tuloy pa ni Reyes.
"[B]ut since they were not following, the barangay captain was forced to call the police. Calling the police was the only way of the barangay captain to make the watchers obey him."
Ilang araw pa lang nang itanggi ng world-renowed Pinoy athlete na inaresto siya ng pulisya. Aniya, walang kasuhang nangyari laban sa kanya ngunit binalaan lang pagdating sa pagdaraos ng mga naturang aktibidad.
Pinasunod lang daw siya sa barangay hall para mag-comply ang lahat sa paninita: "Then they gave us a warning and they gave back our cue stick. Then we went home after," dagdag niya.
Kilalang senior citizen si Reyes, na isa sa mga sektor na "high risk" pagdating sa mas malubhang kaso ng COVID-19. Sa ilalim ng rules ng Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), tanging 15-65 lang ang pinapayagan sa labas ng bahay maliban kung gumagawa ng essential activities.
Enero 2021 lang nang kumalat ang balitang "patay" na siya, bagay na fake news at walang katotohanan.
Kaugnay na balita: Efren 'Bata' Reyes dismisses misinformation of his 'death'
Sa kabila ng edad, matatandaang nakapag-uwi pa ng bronze medal sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games ang beteranong manlalaro. — James Relativo