PBA player John Amores and his brother surrendered to the police early Thursday after the player was caught on CCTV firing a gun at another man after a basketball game in Lumban.
CCTV footage earlier showed Amores disembarking from a motorcycle driven by his 20-year-old brother in Barangay Maytalang Uno at around 5 p.m. Wednesday before firing his weapon at the man.
The victim, however, was unharmed and no bystander was wounded during the shooting.
John Amores, brother freed on bail
Police Major Bob Louis Ordiz, chief of police of Lumban MPS, said that before the incident, Amores had joined a basketball game in Barangay Salac when he and the victim had a heated argument over a contested call.
Police said a bet of P4,000 was on the line for the winning team in the game.
“Nagkaroon ng dayo sa Barangay Salac, tapos may tawag na hindi napàgkasunduan. Then nagsimula doon sa hindi pagkakasunduan hanggang nagkaroon ng hamunan ng suntukan hanggang umabot sila sa Barangay Maytalang I at dun sila nagpangabot. Naghamunan ulit ng another suntukan then si John Amores may dala ng baril at pinaputukan ang victim,” he said.
Police engaged in a hot pursuit operation after the shooting.
Another of Amores' siblings who serves as a barangay chairman in Pagsanjan later contacted Lumban police, which led to the surrender of the two brothers at 1 a.m.
Ordiz said both brothers had been receiving threats after the incident.
“Nag-voluntary surrender po [sila] dito sa ating station dahil nagkakaroon na nga raw po sila ng threat sa kanilang buhay. Sa kanila pareho,” the official said.
PBA player na si John Amores pinaghahanap sa kasong pamamaril
They are set to undergo inquest proceedings over attempted murder charges.
Meanwhile, the victim has told police he does not want to do interviews.
But his weeping mother, Shirley Cacalda, said she would pursue the case against the Amores siblings.
"Kakauwi lang ng anak ko galing barko, 6, 5 araw pa lang dito yan...tapos didisgrasyahin n'ya. Sa halagang P4,000, papatayin niya anak ko, hindi ako papayag," Cacalda told reporters at that Lumban police station.
"Itutuloy ko 'yan (kaso). Bibigyan ko ng kadalahan 'yan dahil hambog 'yan, sa akin madadala 'yan," she added.
PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial has also issued the following statement on the incident.
“This is a matter subject of investigation by the police, and we cannot comment in it. But we are saddened by such unfortunate incident.”
NCAA BAN
Amores, a former Jose Rizal University (JRU) player, was previously banned by the NCAA after punching 4 players of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde (CSB) during a game in 2022.
NCAA bans JRU's John Amores after punching spree
Amores charged the St. Benilde bench and attacked several players, in particular knocking down Mark Sangco and Jimboy Pasturan. Officials eventually halted the game, which saw the Blazers take a 71-51 win.
NCAA: Brawl mars game between JRU, Benilde
NCAA: Amores officially removed from JRU basketball program
Pasturan and Taine Mitchell Davis later filed a complaint against Amores at the San Juan City Prosecutor's Office.
Despite this, Amores was signed up by NorthPort Batang Pier during the fifth round of the 2023 PBA Rookie Draft.
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