Ateneo de Manila University has accepted the resignations of Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher “Epok” Quimpo following the drowning deaths of two student-athletes during a team-building activity in Aurora province on June 8.

University officials confirmed the developments on Monday, June 15, during a press conference led by Ateneo President Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, in the aftermath of the incident that killed student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

“Effective immediately… We thank him for the years of service to the Blue Eagles but as we enter a period of deep institutional review, change in leadership is necessary to ensure the full integrity of our sports programs and safety protocols covering them. We must look inward, examine our systems and rebuild a stronger athletics program,” Yap said.

The university said both Baldwin and Quimpo stepped down as Ateneo moves into what officials described as a “deep institutional review” of its athletics program. Quimpo’s resignation was also confirmed by the university’s student publication The Guidon.

The incident stemmed from a team-building activity in Aurora that resulted in the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili, triggering scrutiny over safety protocols in school-sanctioned activities.

Meanwhile, Ateneo officials said the university has shouldered all expenses of Baterbonia’s family from Agusan province to Manila and during the return of his remains to their hometown.

“We offer to shoulder all the costs of Rene’s family from Agusan to Manila so that they will be with him,” Yap said.

University officials said coordination with the families of both student-athletes continues as the institution conducts an internal review of its programs and safety measures.