Coach Tab appears at Crame for drowning probe

ONE OF 48 SUMMONED Former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team coach Tab Baldwin complies on Friday with the subpoena issued by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.  SCREENGRAB FROM VIDEO COURTESY OF PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE PRESS CORPS

Tab Baldwin, the resigned head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team, appeared before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday in response to the second subpoena it issued to him in connection with the investigation into the drowning of two student-athletes during an off-campus training in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.

Baldwin, accompanied by lawyers, arrived at the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame shortly before 8:30 a.m. as the police piece together the events that led to the drowning of Blue Eagles rookie Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Nigerian player Chukwuemeka Divine Adili during a team-building activity at a beach resort in Dipaculao town.

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READ: Ateneo drowning probe: Baldwin arrives at CIDG

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Also appearing at the CIDG office on Friday were assistant coaches Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano, and university athletics director Em Fernandez.

Baldwin, Castaño, Soriano and Fernandez did not give a statement to reporters.

But Jacinto, speaking through his lawyer, maintained that what happened in Aurora was an “accident.”

“Coach Jacinto gave his statement to the CIDG. He recounted what happened … Hopefully, after this, investigators get the finding that, sadly, an unexpected event happened. It was all just an accident and there was really no initiation rites,” lawyer Pelagio Cuison, who represents Jacinto, told reporters.

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“At the end of the day, nobody wanted this to happen. We hope the CIDG and NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) will also come to the same conclusion,” he added.

“The coach (Jacinto) was really sad. He even cried … recounting how he was able to save one player from drowning and how he was unable to save the others,” Cuison said.

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ADMU prez also summoned

Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the investigation into the incident was around “80 percent” complete, as more witnesses were expected to appear until next week. At least 48 people had been subpoenaed by the CIDG in connection with its investigation.

“Rushing the process may overlook critical facts that determine whether this was an accident, negligence, or a possible violation of the law,” Nartatez told reporters.

Among those summoned by the CIDG and the NBI in their separate investigations included players and coaches present during the Aurora training as well as officials of Ateneo and MVP Sports, the foundation supporting the team.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the CIDG had also summoned Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, to appear on June 25.

“Ateneo is holding its graduation rites, that’s why [Yap] couldn’t come. He is subpoenaed for Thursday next week,” Remulla told reporters at Camp Crame on Friday, adding that Yap had sent word to investigators that he could not attend Friday’s proceedings.

Remulla also noted that Ateneo men’s basketball team manager Epok Quimpo had yet to appear before the CIDG.

Asked whether the investigation has found any violations committed by Baldwin during the incident, Remulla told reporters: “Not yet. Wait until the full report.”

Checking drone shots

Earlier, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said Baldwin was summoned, particularly to provide personal knowledge of the incident and to produce the drone footage of the rescue efforts.

Remulla said the drone footage was very short, noting “it was around two minutes after the fact.” “We’re still researching if they have footage of the event itself. So far, there is no such thing,” he said.

“[Baldwin] asked an assistant coach, perhaps the student manager, to get the drone. He tried to operate the drone while the players were being rescued … In the confusion of it all, the drone failed. But, the resort, I think, put up another drone,” Remulla said.

He described Baldwin’s statement as “material” because “he was the head coach, head of management.”

“He makes 90 percent of the executive decisions. So, his testimony is very important,” Remulla added.

Apologies

On June 12, four days after the tragedy, Baldwin apologized over the deaths of Baterbonia, 18, and Adili, 21, through a video message released by Ateneo. Three days later, the university announced that it accepted Baldwin’s resignation.

Yap also apologized to the families of Baterbonia and Adili, saying that the Ateneo leadership acknowledges the families’ “unbearable” pain over the deaths of the students.

“To the families of Rene and Divine, we see you, we hear you, we acknowledge the unbearable pain of your mourning, we know that the grief you carry right now is compounded by an anger that is entirely natural, justified,” Yap said at a press conference on June 15, exactly a week after the tragedy.

School in mourning

“On behalf of Ateneo de Manila University, I am here to say simply and directly, we are truly, deeply sorry. We apologize to the families and the entire community for the agonizing pain of this tragedy,” he added.

On Friday, the Ateneo community gathered in both “grief and gratitude” as it held its baccalaureate Mass for the Loyola Schools Class of 2026, with students, school officials, alumni and parents wearing black bands and ribbons to honor and remember Baterbonia and Adili.

Yap, who celebrated the Mass, acknowledged the community’s grief as graduates, faculty members, and families gathered ahead of commencement exercises.

“We take pride in your achievements. But like all of you, we also carry a heavy sorrow,” Yap said.

“As expressed by our black bands and ribbons, our community grieves the tragic loss of our beloved student-athletes, Bobet and Divine. We hold them and their families in our prayers during this Mass,” he added.

Yap again acknowledged criticisms directed at the university in the aftermath of the tragedy, reiterating his apology and acknowledging “missteps” in handling the situation.

Despite the grief, he urged the community to honor the achievements of the graduating class and to bring both “grief and gratitude” to the celebration.

“So at this baccalaureate Mass, we bring both our grief and our gratitude to the altar of the Lord, asking Him to help us transform our suffering into a collective prayer for healing for Ateneo,” Yap said.

‘Time of tragedy, darkness’

Delivering the homily, former Ateneo president, Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, reflected on the Gospel’s image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

“We need this reassurance of a God who loves and cares for us in this time of tragedy and darkness in our Ateneo community,” Nebres said.

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“Beyond the pain and the grief, we are here to remember and to celebrate your sacrifices, the many sleepless nights and the beautiful times that you and your parents have gone through,” he said.

Nebres also urged graduates to resist a growing “culture of power” and instead help build a “civilization of love” through integrity, compassion, and service to others. —WITH A REPORT FROM ISABELLE PECHAY