Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Roberto Yap is now scheduled to appear before the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP–CIDG) on June 26, a day later than initially set, as authorities continue their probe into the drowning deaths of two student-athletes in Aurora.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said Yap’s appearance was moved from June 25 to Friday to allow the university head to formally provide the institution’s statement.
“We also have to get the side or statement of the institution itself as represented by, I understand, the president. As far as I know, he is scheduled to appear on Friday,” Co said in a briefing at Camp Crame on Monday.
The CIDG is investigating the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a training exercise along the shoreline of Dipaculao, Aurora earlier this month.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said Yap had been initially summoned for June 25.
The CIDG has issued subpoenas to at least 48 individuals as part of the ongoing investigation into the incident.
Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, who has since resigned, already appeared before investigators last Friday, according to authorities.
Remulla earlier said there were inconsistencies between statements from coaching staff and student accounts, which he attributed to differences in perspective during the incident.
“All of these statements, not only of the coach, are still being processed,” Co said in Filipino, adding that authorities are withholding details to avoid prejudgment as the investigation continues.
Officials said no further details from the closed-door proceedings were released following a coordination meeting between top police and CIDG officials on Monday.
