MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) recommended hazing charges against former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin and 10 members of the team’s coaching and support staff following the drowning deaths of two players during a team-building and training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Friday.
The victims, Rene Baterbonia, 18, and Divine Adili, 21, drowned on June 8 during the second day of the Blue Eagles’ team-building and training activity at a resort in Dipaculao.
Remulla said the CIDG recommended filing charges under Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, against those who planned and participated in the activity.
The respondents include Baldwin; strength and conditioning coaches Grant Dearns and Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba; assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano and Reynaldo Jacinto; student managers Paolo Manuel Maceda Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo “Drew” Bondoc Salud; physical therapist John Eric Quiambao Rueca; and utility personnel Aris Ramos Pronce and Joel “Boy” Palmiano Rapa.
Remulla said investigators concluded that the team-building activity met the definition of hazing under the law because it subjected participants to forced physical activities and exposure to hazardous conditions.
According to the CIDG investigation, the players woke up at 4 a.m. on June 8 and ran four kilometers before taking part in a series of physically demanding games. Around 2:30 p.m., they entered the sea during high tide despite hazardous conditions that included rip currents, strong waves and varying seabed depths.
Brian Tomas, chief of legal and legislative affairs at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, said the activity involved intense physical exercises and punishments for participants who lost games. He added that the training served as part of the selection process for the final 17-player roster to be submitted to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Remulla said Baldwin knew that five players, including Adili, could not swim but still proceeded with the sea activity after discussing how to respond to rip currents.
Department of Justice spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano? Wait. (Actually Polo Martinez per article) DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said prosecutors would evaluate the CIDG recommendation and determine whether the evidence warrants filing charges. He added that prosecutors may also consider other charges, including homicide or reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, if supported by the evidence.
Martinez said the DOJ would first determine whether the case requires additional investigation or should proceed to preliminary investigation.
The CIDG said investigators compiled 620 pages of testimonies and conducted 320 hours of interviews involving 60 individuals, with 68 lawyers present during the investigation.
Remulla said Baldwin, Jacinto, Castaño and Soriano have been placed under an immigration lookout bulletin order, which requires authorities to monitor any attempt to leave the country. He added that he would recommend a hold departure order against Baldwin, who holds American and New Zealand citizenship.
According to Remulla, Baldwin told him he does not intend to leave the Philippines.
Ateneo spokesperson Fr. RB Hizon, SJ, said the university acknowledged the CIDG’s recommendation, respected the investigation and would continue cooperating with authorities. He said the Department of Justice would review the recommendation through the legal process.
Remulla also cited statements from former Ateneo players who told investigators they experienced or witnessed near-drowning incidents during previous team training sessions in Aurora.
Baldwin has coached the Ateneo men’s basketball team since 2016, leading the Blue Eagles to UAAP championships in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.
