Northport selects John Amores during the 2023 PBA Draft in Taguig City on September 17, 2023. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA -- John Amores' registration with the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) may be canceled, pending the results of the investigation on his involvement in a shooting incident last month.
Amores, who plays for the NorthPort Batang Pier in the PBA, shot a man but missed following a disagreement over a basketball game in Lumban, Laguna last month. He and his brother surrendered to police and were charged with attempted homicide.
They are now out on bail.
During Monday's hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Finance on the budget of GAB, Chairperson Atty. Francisco Rivera said the PBA will first need to finish its investigation on Amores.
READ: PBA player John Amores, brother surrender, face attempted murder raps over shooting incident
READ: John Amores, brother freed on bail
"The investigation could potentially involve his expulsion from the league," said Rivera. "Once that’s done, the Games and Amusement Board could, as a result, cancel his registration with us."
Asked by Subcommittee Chair Senator Bong Go if GAB evaluated Amores, Rivera said: "The Games and Amusement Board was of the view that we have to give him the opportunity to rehabilitate himself on the strength of his undertaking."
"There was also a statement that he would undergo therapy for anger management and on that basis, he was issued a license," he added. "Considering the gravity of the offense that he committed at this time, the same argument will probably no longer work for him."
Amores has a history of violence, having gone on a punching spree during an NCAA game in 2022, when he was still playing for Jose Rizal University. The player attacked several members of the College of St. Benilde squad; the melee resulted in his expulsion from the JRU basketball program.
FROM 2022: Brawl mars game between JRU, Benilde
Despite the incident, Amores went on to play in the MPBL before getting drafted by NorthPort in the fifth round of the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft in September last year. At the time, he said that he welcomed the opportunity to prove that he has changed his ways.
READ: John Amores welcomes opportunity to redeem himself in PBA
Rivera admitted that they were not able to check if Amores passed his therapy.
"Check nang mabuti before you issue permits to play. Important kung pumasa ba siya sa mental health or sa anger management," said Go.
"Kung kakailanganing imbestigahan natin ito para hindi maulit. But at your level it’s your mandate to check before you issue permits," he added. "Buti na lang hindi tinamaan. What if namatay yung binaril? Kindly strengthen your rules or policy. Prevention ang important dito; maiwasan muna para hindi tayo magsisihan sa huli."
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