CIDG: Deaths Of Ateneo Cagers Not An Accident; NBI To Leave No Stone Unturned

Resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball coach Tab Baldwin should man up, the chief investigator of the Philippine National Police said on Wednesday, June 17, as the PNP probe showed that the deaths of two ADMU Blue Eagles players during a training camp in Dipaculao, Aurora were not an accident.

Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Baldwin should stop ignoring police summons and instead cooperate in the probe.

The Department of Justice has issued immigration lookout bulletin orders for Baldwin, former team manager Christopher Quimpo and assistant coaches Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano.

Incoming rookie Rene Clert Baterbonia and Nigerian import Chukwuemeka Divine Adili drowned on June 8 in Aurora.

“Be man enough to face the investigation in the interest of justice for the two players whom you call as your brother,” Morico said at a news briefing at Camp Crame.

If Baldwin takes to heart the Ateneo team’s battle cry BEBOB or Blue Eagles Band of Brothers, Morico said the coach should face his responsibility.

Morico said evidence and testimonies obtained so far by investigators showed that the drowning incident on a beach in Dipaculao was not an accident.

Baldwin has ignored the CIDG’s subpoena. Should he comply with the summons, he has been ordered to bring footage of the drowning incident, which the coach documented with his drone.

Police said the Ateneo cagers conducted their training exercise about 700 meters away from the resort.

The probe also showed that “the sea was dangerous and the weather condition at the time was not suitable for non-swimmers,” Morico said.

Baldwin may face a complaint for indirect contempt under Republic Act No. 10973.

Seven Ateneo basketball players appeared at the CIDG on Wednesday.

The CIDG has summoned at least 48 people, including Ateneo officials, members of the coaching staff, players and responders from the Dipaculao municipal government.

Morico said they would ask the responders about their actions after reports surfaced that Adili still had a pulse when he was brought to the shore.

Baldwin to face NBI

Baldwin will appear at the National Bureau of Investigation tomorrow, June 19, according to NBI Director Melvin Matibag.

Matibag said more personalities are expected to attend the NBI probe today, June 18, to shed light on the drowning incident.

Eleven current and former Ateneo basketball players went to the NBI office in Pasay City on Wednesday to execute their affidavits.

Among them were rookie Kieffer Alas and junior Sam Reyes.

“Actually, we’re very satisfied with the response of the Ateneo team and the community because those whom we’ve subpoenaed are coming,” Matibag told reporters on Wednesday. “If not, they’ll send a lawyer and leave us a message just like Coach Tab Baldwin.”

Baldwin, whose resignation was accepted by Ateneo on Monday, June 15, asked for a rescheduling because “he was not in a good condition,” according to his lawyer, Karl Justeen David.

Alas and Reyes earlier narrated what happened on June 8 to veteran journalist Pia Hontiveros in a 90-minute podcast that aired on Tuesday, June 16.

Alas shot down claims of hazing and wearing ankle weights during the team-building activity.

“The only thing I felt like as a team was us getting closer,” the former UAAP juniors' most valuable player said.

Alas admitted that he had already “accepted” his fate when he was submerged in the water for more than 20 seconds.

Alas, who doesn’t know how to swim, was saved by doing doggy paddling and by 6-foot-10 Filipino-Canadian Malcolm Tyler.

As for Reyes, he claimed that Adili still had a pulse when he was retrieved from the water.

“The only one that I heard who has a pulse was Divine,” the junior said. “He had a pulse.”

Other current cagers who went to the NBI were Grayson Rogers, Sultan Baruwa, Logan Baltazar, Michael Asoro and Matthew De Luna.

Former players Kyle Ong and Lebron Nieto also submitted affidavits.

Matibag remains mum about the details of the case. He said the five-unit task force focused on the incident might not finish its work by the end of the week.

“Although I’m getting a partial report, I cannot come out with a partial conclusion,” the NBI chief said. “We need to talk to all. As I’ve said, the NBI’s commitment is that we will not leave anything unturned. We will look into everything.”

The NBI task force is composed of the Homicide Division, Aurora District Office, Technical Investigation Division, Digital Forensic Laboratory and Medico Legal Division. – With Evelyn Macairan