PBA: Lumban police chief explains attempted murder raps on John Amores

John Amores' surrender sparked one of the busiest days ever by the Lumban police. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

LUMBAN--It was a whirlwind day for the Lumban Municipal Police Station here following the decision of NorthPort player John Amores and his brother to surrender to them amid a shooting incident just as the sun was setting the night before.

At around 1 a.m. Thursday, the Amores Brothers turned themselves in even as they looked to protect themselves after getting threats from the group of Lee Cacalda, the one they spat with during a pick-up basketball game.

Word has reached Dugout Philippines that Amores and Cacalda argued over a foul call during the game where a whopping PHP4,000 bet was at stake.

"Dumayo yung grupo nina Amores dito sa Lumban, doon sa Barangay Salac na nilaruan din ng mga taga-rito sa Lumban," Bob Ordiz, the chief of the police force here, relayed to Dugout Philippines how Amores, who resides in the adjacent town of Pagsanjan, found himself here on a Wednesday afternoon.

Oftentimes, pick-up games do not require a referee, and this was the case here as both players continued to trade barbs likely due to one denying that he fouled the other considering that they were self-officiating themselves.

"May tawag na di nagustuhan. Doon nagsimula yung init ng laro hanggang nagkagulo at naghamunan ng suntukan," Ordiz further said.

Cooler heads momentarily prevailed in preventing both Amores and Cacalda from turning their tussle into a fistfight, but both hotheads took their fight elsewhere, leading to three gunshots from Amores that Cacalda dodged.

According to a person privy to the situation, Cacalda's home was near the crime scene along the Manila East Road in Barangay Maytalang I, where Amores fired gunshots at him, which probably explains why he and his brother suddenly received threats from Cacalda's friends and neighbors afterward, prompting them to surrender to the police.

A preliminary inquest was launched at the Laguna Regional Trial Court in the province's capital of Sta. Cruz, while both Amoreses also underwent a paraffin test at the Laguna Provincial Police Station in the said town before they were brought back to the Lumban PNP headquarters.

The Lumban police, though, had to pacify as well Shirley Cacalda, Lee's mother, who charged to their office seemingly to call out Amores.

According to Ordiz, even Lee Cacalda had no idea his mom, who eventually created a scene, would go to the police headquarters earlier in the day.

The worst-case scenario is Amores could be imprisoned for 6-12 years due to attempted murder, but he could be released temporarily due to bail.

Ordiz explained that even if Amores directed his gunshots at Cacalda, it somehow lacked merit for it to be upgraded to frustrated murder.

"Hindi siya pwedeng maging frustrated kasi hindi injured yung victim although napaputok niya yung baril," Ordiz said, stressing that Cacalda was not hit at all.

However, Ordiz added that if some circumstances could factor in, Amores might only be slapped with attempted homicide raps.

The police major then said that pending the final amount, the bail could be between PHP24,000 and PHP200,000.

Illegal possession raps also possible for John Amores?

A possibility has also been floated that Amores could be in trouble of getting sued for illegal possession of firearms considering that virtually no one at least from those who have been covering him from his NCAA days with Jose Rizal University to his pro days in the ABL, MPBL, and now the PBA knew he has had a gun until now.

"Nag-request na tayo sa [Camp] Crame kung meron siyang licensed firearm under his name. Hinihintay namin yung feedback kung meron talaga," Ordiz further said.

Amores has remained silent to the media about his side of his spat with Cacalda, but according to Ordiz, Amores claimed that he already threw away the gun used in the shooting incident at an undisclosed location.

Another source, though, bared that it is also possible that the illegal possession raps might not be in play here since it is just an attempted murder case only that it became sensationalized due to Amores being a public figure.

Will John Amores' 2022 incident be also in play?

Amores already became infamous in 2022 after he punched some College of St. Benilde players during their NCAA game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City stemming from some trash-talking by fans just at the back of the CSB bench.

Jimboy Pasturan and Taine Davis filed physical injury complaints at the San Juan City Prosecutor's Office, but Amores has since patched things up with the Blazers.

Regarding Amores' past, Ordiz said that at least on the local police's side of things, the attempted murder raps would be independent of his previous physical injury case.

"Yang ganyang history, sa court na siguro yan kasi ilalabas na lahat doon," Ordiz further said, adding that Amores might also need some psychiatric help.

Upon turning pro, Amores showed signs that he wanted to change for the good, seemingly keeping his cool in check.

However, the potential attempted murder charges could be a huge bump in his "second chance" at basketball.

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