HABANG karamihan sa atleta at coaches ay nasa loob ng bahay para makaiwas sa coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, marami sa miyembro ng national judo team ang nasa kalye at inilalagay sa peligro ang buhay bilang frontliners.
Ang two-time Olympian na si John Baylon na Air Force sergeant at kasalukuyang national coach ay naka-deploy sa Cavite mula nang ipatupad enhanced community quarantine.
Siyam na sunod na gold medal ang sinungkit ng 54-anyos Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belter sa Southeast Asian Games.
Nakatalaga naman si Airman first class at 2019 SEA Games silver medalist Gilbert Ramirez sa Sampaloc, Manila kung saan mataas ang kaso ng coronavirus.
“Our national coaches and athletes in the uniformed service are proudly helping the country in the campaign to stop COVID-19 from further infecting our communities,’’ sabi ni Philippine Judo Federation president Dave Carter.
Sumasabak din sa frontline sina Sina SEA Games medalists Jenielou Mosqueda at Helen Dawa na parehong police officers at Jackielou Escarpe at Bryn Quillotes ng Coast Guard.
Ang iba pang kasapi ng national judo squad na kailangan magserbisyo publiko sa gitna ng pandemic ay sina head coach Franco Teves ng Philippine Navy at mga atletang sina Marco Tumampad ng airport police, Alvin Mendoza ng coast guard at Lloyd Dennis Catipon ng Philippine Army.
“Their sacrifice is invaluable. They help keep our citizens safe amid this crisis,’’ ani Carter.
