The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has recommended the filing of charges under the Anti-Hazing Act against former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 other members of the team’s coaching staff following the drowning deaths of two student-athletes during a team-building activity in Aurora earlier this month.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced Friday that the CIDG had referred the case to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for evaluation, case buildup, and possible preliminary investigation for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act.
“This is not about training or hazing. This is also about the rights of the players. Ito rin po ay sana maging leksyon para sa lahat ng mga organisasyon na ang ganitong klaseng bagay ay hindi pwedeng dalhin sa magaanan paraan lamang. Hazing is not only initiations. Hazing can occur in any organization,” Remulla said during a press briefing in Quezon City.
Aside from Baldwin, those recommended for prosecution are strength and conditioning coaches Grant Dearns and Caesar Vincent Elumba; assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Soriano, and Reynaldo Jacinto Jr.; student managers Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud; physical therapist John Eric Rueca; and utility personnel Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.
Remulla emphasized that the CIDG’s recommendation is not yet final.
“This is only the recommendation of the CIDG as the complainant. The final arbiter of what they will be charged with will be the Department of Justice,” he said.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said investigators gathered sufficient evidence to support prosecution under the Anti-Hazing Act.
“The PNP investigated properly and the pieces of evidence that were gathered show that a case can be prosecuted under the Anti-Hazing Law,” Nartatez said.
“We are recommending the suspects or respondents to be prosecuted under the Anti-Hazing Law because we found out that there is an act of maltreatment and hazing and initiation. We would like to deter the conduct of hazing or maltreatment,” he added.
The case stems from the June 8 team-building activity in Aurora province where student-athletes Rene Baterbonia, 18, and Divine Adili, 21, drowned during a sea exercise.
According to DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas, investigators found that players were allegedly subjected to extreme physical activities, punishment exercises, and hazardous sea-based training as part of an evaluation to determine the team’s final roster for submission to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.
Remulla said the investigation included more than 620 pages of testimonies indicating that players were exposed to dangerous weather and sea conditions that ultimately led to the fatalities.
He also cited testimonies from former Ateneo players alleging similar near-drowning incidents during a 2016 training camp at the same location, contradicting Baldwin’s earlier claim that no such incidents had occurred.
“Nakita namin na alam talaga niya. He was of full knowledge that this could possibly happen. Ang mahirap dito, paano mo tuturuan ang hindi marunong lumangoy ng mag-handle ng rip current?” Remulla said, referring to findings that Baldwin allegedly knew at least five players could not swim before the activity.
Remulla said the immigration lookout bulletin order earlier issued against Baldwin would be upgraded to a hold departure order if the case reaches the courts.
“We will recommend the HDO, pero sinabihan ko na rin siya nung umpisa pa lang na I recommend that you do not try to leave the country and he said, ‘I do not plan on going anywhere.’ He will stay,” he said.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez confirmed receipt of the referral and said the department will first evaluate whether the evidence is complete before deciding whether to proceed with a preliminary investigation.
“At this stage, the referral will undergo initial evaluation by the DOJ to determine whether the evidence submitted is complete and sufficient for further proceedings,” Martinez said.
He added that if the evidence is found insufficient, the case may be returned for additional case buildup in coordination with the CIDG. If sufficient, it will be docketed for preliminary investigation.
“The DOJ assures the public that the matter will be evaluated expeditiously and objectively in accordance with the evidence, the law, and applicable procedure,” Martinez said.
