Efren 'Bata' Reyes apologizes for breach of protocols in billiards event he attended

Efren "Bata" Reyes has apologized for the breach of health and safety protocols in the billiards event he attended last week.

In a letter to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), the sports legend explained what happened during the March 11 exhibition game in San Pedro, Laguna, where he was seen playing amid the pandemic.

Reyes said he asked the organizers of the event to ask for permission from the local government before accepting their invitation.

"The barangay captain was aware of the event," he said. "He kept on reminding the people watching the game to observe social distancing and follow the safety protocols."

Efren Bata Reyes letter to GAB pic.twitter.com/554p6rRWJW

— Abraham (@bahammitra) March 16, 2021

Reyes said "everything was smooth" at the beginning and there were only few viewers, but the news of his presence attracted more people from the neighborhood. It then became more difficult to enforce safety protocols.

"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," he said.

Reyes said he followed the suggestion of the police to go with them in the barangay hall so everybody would comply. He also said he was only given a warning, and was not arrested as initially alleged.

"I am deeply sorry for what happened, I don't have control over the situation and the people around the vicinity," he said.

Reyes also clarified in a "24 Oras Weekend report that he was just reprimanded because of what happened.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News