The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has recommended the filing of charges for alleged violation of the Anti-Hazing Act before the Department of Justice against former Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others over the deaths of two student-athletes.
The charges stem from the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora, where Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned during a team activity described as a “team building.”
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the incident should not be taken lightly, emphasizing that hazing can occur beyond traditional initiation rites.
“Mga ganitong klaseng bagay ay hindi pwedeng dalhin sa magaanang paraan lamang. Hazing is not only initiations. Hazing can occur in any organization,” Remulla said.
Remulla also cited inconsistencies in statements regarding past activities held in the same area. He said Baldwin denied any previous near-drowning incidents among players.
“In the exact same place, a similar incident involving Ateneo players. I asked him when a similar accident occurred in the past, sinabi niya, ‘There was no incident that even created the idea of drowning,’” he said.
A ‘similar’ near-drowning experience in 2016
However, testimonies gathered by investigators contradicted this claim. Former Ateneo men’s basketball team member Norman Aaron Black said that during a 2016 training camp, he and teammates Gboy Babilonia and Ikeh Chibueze nearly drowned due to panic in seawater.
“During my time in 2016, I participated in the training camp, my teammates Gboy Babilonia and Ikeh Chibueze nearly drowned at the seawater due to panic because Gboy was unable to swim,” Black said.
He added that he himself experienced a near-drowning incident and was rescued by a former Ateneo member turned UAAP coach.
“I personally experienced an untoward incident to the point that I almost drowned and gave up but Coach Yuri Escueta held my hand and helped me with a floating device,” he said.
Despite the absence of physical violence, Remulla stressed that the players were allegedly exposed to danger.
“Hindi sila sinaktan ngunit dinala sa mapanganib na lugar,” he said.
Ateneo denies knowledge of fatal team-building activity
The CIDG said testimonies indicate that the Ateneo de Manila University administration was not aware of the team-building activity conducted in Dipaculao.
Authorities also dismissed reports that players were required to carry weights during the activity.
“There was none,” said CIDG director Police Major General Robert Alexander A. Morico II.
Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Brian Tomas said the activity was intended to evaluate players vying for spots in the final lineup to be submitted to the UAAP board by Baldwin.
The Department of Justice is expected to review the CIDG’s recommendation to determine whether to proceed with the filing of formal charges.
