Bong Go eyes probe into Taekwondo sparring incident involving minor

Senator Christopher ”Bong” Go on Friday expressed intention to conduct a Senate probe into the incident involving a 17-year-old taekwondo practitioner who suffered injuries after her coach allegedly set her up to spar with a heavier male black belt.

In a press statement, Go said he found the video of the incident very distressing as the taekwondo practitioner was mercilessly beaten by the male blackbelter who was almost twice her weight 

Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, pointed out that sparring sessions are designed to hone the skills of budding athletes, noting that they are not intended to injure or potentially kill athletes. 

”Bilang chair ng Senate Committee on Sports, interes nating hindi na maulit ang insidenteng ito. Kung kinakailangan ay magpatawag tayo ng imbestigasyon upang tingnan kung merong kailangang amyendahan sa ating mga batas at gawing mas mabigat ang mga parusa sa mga ganitong pangyayari,” Go said. 

(As chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, it is our interest that this incident will not happen again. If needed, we will call for an investigation into the incident to check if there is a need to amend our laws and impose stiffer penalties against this kind of incident.) 

The senator said a coach should have monitored the sparring session so that one could guide the athletes during training.

”Dapat may naka-monitor na coach lalo na sa contact sports. Ang coach din ang dapat umalalay sa mga atleta kapag nagti-training sila. Hindi lang ito usapin ng mismatch. Usapin din ito ng posibleng violation ng karapatan ng isang menor de edad,” Go said. 

(A coach should always monitor the training, especially when it comes to contact sports. The coach should guide athletes. This is not just an issue of mismatch. It’s also about a possible violation of the rights of a minor.) 

Earlier reports said the victim sustained bruises under the eye and a swollen face after the incident in February. She was confined in a hospital due to the injuries.

A yellow belt in taekwondo indicates the student is a beginner while a black belt means the student has achieved a significant level of proficiency in the martial art.

The victim’s family expressed belief that the team coach deliberately arranged the disadvantageous sparring session because of jealousy. 

Police have already filed charges against the coach for violating Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Taekwondo Association said it already launched its own probe into the incident. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News