More Charges Recommended Against Former Ateneo Coach Baldwin, 8 Others in Student Drowning Case

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has confirmed that additional cases have been recommended against resigned Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and eight others. The charges are for two counts of homicide and two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, in connection with the fatal drownings of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8. The PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it had recommended to the Department of Justice (DOJ) that Baldwin and eight others be charged with two counts of homicide and two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide. It cited the following elements as the bases for its recommendation: existence of duty of care and responsibility over the victims, existence of a dangerous situation requiring precaution, failure to exercise necessary precaution or due diligence, negligent act or omissions by persons responsible for the activity, direct resulting death of the victims, and causal connection between the negligence and the deaths. Last week, the CIDG recommended that the former Ateneo coach and 10 members of his coaching and support staff be charged with violating Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act in connection with the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili. The 10 were identified as 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/ball boys Aris Ramos Pronce and Joel “Boy” Palmiano Rapa. For the additional charges, the CIDG tagged Hearns, Castaño, Elumba, Soriano, Jacinto, Rueca, athletic director Emmanuel Fernandez, and sports facility officer Vincent Raphael Mangulabnan. On Tuesday, Baterbonia’s family appeared before the CIDG to be briefed on the findings of its investigation into his death. In a separate statement, the CIDG said it had assured the Baterbonia family that it was building an “airtight case.” “The Chief of the Philippine National Police, Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., deployed a dedicated team of PNP lawyers to closely assist and oversee the investigative process,” it added. This development highlights ongoing concerns regarding safety protocols and accountability in sports activities within the Philippines, particularly concerning the welfare of student-athletes.