Student managers and utility staff of the Ateneo Men's Basketball Team who were among those recommended for hazing charges in connection with the deaths of two student-athletes may be cleared of criminal liability and instead be treated as "witnesses," Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday.
According to a report by RH Edniel Parrosa, Remulla said the Department of Justice (DOJ) may exclude some participants in the June 8 team-building activity from the list of respondents if it is established that they had no knowledge of any unlawful intent behind the activity.
"Maaari na ring maalis sa kakasuhan ang ilang mga kasama sa aktibidad lalo na kung mapakita na hindi nila alam ang masamang layon na ito," Remulla said.
"Maaari ring gawing testigo imbes na akusado ng DOJ ang mga student managers at ballboys," he added.
Student managers Paolo Adevoso and Andrew Salud, along with utility staff Aris Prince and Joel Rapa, were among those included in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) list of individuals recommended for prosecution, released on June 26, which also included Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and other members of the coaching staff for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.
The recommendation stems from the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a team activity described as a "team-building" exercise in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
