Immigration lookout bulletin issued vs Baldwin, 4 others

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin against the American-New Zealander coach. —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — Authorities have issued an immigration lookout bulletin order (Ilbo) against former Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and four other officials of the college basketball team of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) amid investigation into the deaths of two rookie players.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said that, aside from Baldwin, the order also covers former team manager Christopher Quimpo, and assistant coaches Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano.

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“It is intended to alert authorities should the subjects attempt to travel abroad, while the investigation is ongoing. It is not by itself a restriction on travel nor a finding of liability. The investigation remains ongoing and the department stands ready to undertake its mandate once a complaint is formally filed,” Vida said.

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READ: CIDG: Ateneo drowning not an accident, took place 700 meters from resort

An Ilbo is a “monitoring mechanism” for authorities to merely track, not block, the departure of the American-New Zealander coach and the four other key members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles team.

The order came nearly a week after lawyer Israelito Torreon asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an Ilbo after the DOJ announced that it directed the National Bureau of Investigation to form a task force to probe the drowning incident of Ateneo Blue Eagles players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili.

ADMU earlier announced that Baterbonia, 18, and Adili, 21, died of drowning on June 8 during a team-building activity at a resort in Aurora province. They were purportedly doing drills on the shoreline when strong waves allegedly swept them away.

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READ: Aquino, Go call for Senate probe into Ateneo cagers’ deaths

Autopsies on the bodies of Baterbonia and Adili were conducted at the request of their families, who have also criticized the university and the basketball team for their supposed lack of communication over the incident.

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Baldwin and Quimpo have since stepped down from their positions. ADMU president Fr. Bobby Yap on Monday said that the university had accepted their resignations.

‘Man up’

In a related development, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP–CIDG) dared Baldwin to face the probe.

“Be man enough to face the investigation in the interest of justice and equity for the two players, whom you call your brothers,” CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said at a press briefing in Camp Crame also on Wednesday.

“If you’re talking about the battle cry of BEBOB (Blue Eagles, Band of Brothers), you will not turn your back. Help us also. Help the family attain justice,” he added.

The CIDG previously subpoenaed Baldwin, the rest of the coaching staff and the players present at the activity. At least 22 players and seven members of the coaching staff had participated in that activity, police said.

The former coach and at least three other Ateneo officials, however, failed to personally appear before the CIDG, sending their legal counsel instead.

Morico said they “will exhaust [CIDG’s] available powers,” including the filing of contempt and obstruction of justice charges, should Baldwin and the others again fail to appear.

Republic Act No. 10973 gives the PNP chief and the CIDG director and deputy director the power to issue subpoenas for its investigations.

The law further states that failure to comply with subpoenas may authorize the agency to file a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the regional trial court.

Baldwin had apologized over Baterbonia and Adili’s deaths in a video posted on ADMU’s Facebook page four days after the incident.

On Wednesday, another batch of ADMU players appeared before the CIDG, including Jared Bahay, Ian Espinosa and Shawn Tuano.

Several former and current players also appeared earlier on Tuesday. They were accompanied by their lawyers.

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Neither the players nor the lawyers issued a statement to the media. —WITH A REPORT FROM JASON SIGALES