Taekwondo coach denies intention to harm yellow belter

The coach of the female taekwondo yellow belter who was hospitalized after sparring against a heavier male black belter said there was no intention on his part to harm his student.

The coach said this to digital news site Arkipelago News, according to Oscar Oida's 24 Oras report on Thursday.

"Wala akong intensyon na ipabugbog 'yung bata," the coach said. 

"Expected na pagdating sa taekwondo na matatamaan talaga, masasaktan, mai-injury, matutumba. Lahat 'yun normal, expected 'yun kasi nasa physical sports tayo."

(There was no intention to physically harm her. It is expected in taekwondo that one will be hit, hurt, injured, or fall. It's normal and expected since this is a physical sport.)

He added that it was usual for a male and a female athlete, even if they are of different belts, to go against each other in sparring.

"Para mahasa 'yung bata sa depensa, sa bigat ng sipa na pagdating sa tournament, mas nasasanay sila sa speed, sa talino, at sa mga bigat ng sipa ng higher belt o higher weight," the coach said.

(So they can learn defense and the weight of the kick so when a tournament comes, they are used to the speed, wit, and weight of those higher belts or higher weight.)

The coach also said there is no truth about allegations that he was jealous because the boyfriend of 'Cindy' brought flowers to practice. Instead, he scolded the whole team for doing something that is not expected of them.

He also said there is no truth to allegations that Cindy was his type.

The coach also explained his side of inviting them to go out to eat or going to church.

"Pag nag-aaya po ako kumakain, lahat po ini-invite ko. Kumbaga, 'pag alam ko po na may problema 'yung bata, may ganyan, ganito, gusto magkuwento, aayain ko talaga, hindi lang po 'yung yellow belt na 'yan at 'di lang po, babae alam po 'yan ng buong team po," the coach said.

"Isang beses, niyaya ko siya magsimba gawa po ng may naikuwento siya sa akin regarding sa family niya na ganito,  ganyan at ako wala ako masabi dahil wala ako sa sitwasyon na 'yun kaya sabi ko na lang sa kanya na mas okay kung word ni God."

(When I invite them to go out, I invite everyone. If I know that an athlete has a problem and they want to talk about it, I invite them, not only the yellow belter and not only girls, the whole team knows this.

One time I invited her to go to church since she told me something about her family and I could not say anything so what I said was it is better for her to take God's word.)

The coach said he was saddened that he thought his athletes knew him well.

"Nalulungkot ako kasi napanood ko 'yung video, 'ka ko 'di siya ito, 'di siya ito, kilala niya ako."

(I was saddened by the video, I told myself she's not like this. She knows me.)

No instruction to harm

An official of the Philippine Taekwondo Association said its investigation found no indication that the coach wanted to harm the yellow belter.

PTA secretary general Rock Samson said the taekwondo body received the results of the investigation conducted by Jesus Is Lord Colleges Foundation, and reviewed the practice videos.

"Actually, kung titingnan n'yong mabuti 'yung video, hindi naman papunta 'yung sipa sa mukha. It's two body kick, dalawang papunta sa katawan. It just so happened na 'yung second kick, padulas 'yung bata kaya tumama siguro sa mukha, but again sa video na pinapanood ko, 'di ko makita kung papaano tumama sa mukha kasi nakaharang na 'yung supposed to be nagre-referee sa kanila."

(If you will see the video, the kick was not heading for the face. It's two body kicks, two kicks heading to the body. It just so happened that the athlete was somehow slipping, possibly why the kick landed on the face, but in the video, I could not see clearly how it landed on the face since the supposed referee was somehow blocking the shot.)

GMA Integrated News is trying to reach out to Cindy and her family for their side.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News