Beleaguered Ateneo basketball coach Tab Baldwin and three other basketball team officials did not appear in the hearing set by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in connection with the death of two basketball players in Aurora.
Several school and basketball team officials were summoned by the CIDG to appear on Monday, June 5, but Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic’’ Remulla said only a lawyer and a basketball official arrived.
He said another subpoena would be sent to the management of the basketball team for a hearing on Friday, June 19., noting that there is also a plan to summon the team’s players in a separate hearing.
The summon is in relation to the death of student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Aurora.
“We are not here to arrest, we are not here to charge, but merely gather the facts,” Remulla said.
Remulla explained that the hearing is merely a fact-finding mission and not a fault-finding process with the results to be given in due time, once all concerned parties are investigated.
He said that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is verifying other statements circulating after the deaths of Adil and Baterbonia in the June 8 drowning incident.
The DILG extended its deepest condolences to the families of Baterbonia and Adili, and to the Ateneo de Manila University community, saying that the loss of two young student-athletes is a tragedy that the nation shares.
“All concerned individuals are expected to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities. Due process will be strictly observed, and accountability will be enforced wherever the facts lead,’’ Remulla stated.
Likewise, Remulla urged the public to refrain from making speculation and to allow proper authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, out of respect for the grieving families and for the truth that must be established.