By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has recommended charges against 11 members of the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) men’s basketball coaching staff, including former head coach Tab Baldwin, in connection with the June 8 drowning of two student-athletes at a team building in Aurora.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the PNP-CIDG recommended the evaluation, case build-up, and a preliminary investigation to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for violation of Republic Act 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, against those who actually planned and participated in the hazing.
“Hindi po ito tungkol sa training o hazing. Ito’y tungkol rin sa mga karapatan ng mga manlalaro. This is also about the rights of the players. Ito rin po ay sana maging leksiyon para sa lahat ng mga organisasyon na ang ganitong klaseng bagay ay hindi puwedeng dalhin sa magaan na paraan lamang,” Sec. Remulla said during a press briefing in Quezon City on Friday.
“Hazing is not only initiations. Hazing can occur in any organization,” he added.
Aside from Baldwin, also recommended charged were 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/ball boys Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.
“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,’’ Remulla said.
PNP Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said he is confident that the DOJ will approve their recommendation to file charges against the respondents.
“The PNP, nag-imbestiga nang maayos and so the pieces of evidence that were gathered shows that a case can be prosecuted under the Anti-Hazing Law,” said Nartatez Jr.
“We are recommending the suspects or respondents to be prosecuted under Anti-Hazing Law because we found out that there is an act of maltreatment and hazing and initiation and therefore, they should be tried under Anti-Hazing Law and ang ini-implement natin dito or tina-try natin dito is we would like to deter the conduct of hazing or maltreatment,” he added.
Sec. Remulla said the immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) announced against Baldwin on June 17 will be upgraded to a hold departure order (HDO) if the case reaches the court.
“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. ‘Yun ang sabi niya,’’ Sec. Remulla said.
Remulla pointed to the testimonies of former Ateneo players alleging similar near-drowning incidents during a 2016 training camp at the same location, contrary to Baldwin’s claim that no such incident occurred in the past.
Remulla said Baldwin gave tips on how to handle rip current after being aware that five of his players do not know how to swim.
“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?’’ he added.
DILG Asec. Brian Mey Tomas said investigators found out that the players were allegedly subjected to extreme physical activities, punishment exercises, and sea-based training under hazardous conditions before Rene Baterbonia, 18, and Divine Adili, 21, drowned.
He added that the activity was reportedly intended to determine which players would secure spots on the team’s final roster to be submitted to the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) board.
Remulla said over 620 pages of testimony prove the players were subjected to extreme weather and extreme conditions which resulted in the deaths.
