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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Toby Tiangco wants answers from resigned Tab Baldwin amid whispers of negligence

Toby Tiangco wants answers from resigned Tab Baldwin amid whispers of negligence

Published Jun 16, 2026 02:56 pm

At A Glance

  • Rep. Toby Tiangco says Coach Tab Baldwin's resignation is not enough and Ateneo must explain what happened at the boot camp.
  • He emphasized uncovering the truth, determining negligence, and ensuring accountability.
  • Tiangco has filed a resolution for inquiry, stressing families and the public deserve clear answers.


Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin's resignation from the collegiate basketball squad isn't enough, Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco said on Tuesday, June 16.
Tiangco says the more crucial thing for Baldwin to do is to explain the circumstances of the tragic drowning of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili during what he described as a team "boot camp" in Aurora last June 8.
"Sa akin, hindi sapat ang resignation. Dapat hiningan siya ng Ateneo De Manila University nang paliwanag kung ano talagang nangyari at dapat isapubliko ito," Tiangco said.
(For me, resignation is not enough. Ateneo De Manila University should have asked him to explain what really happened and make it public.)
The veteran lawmaker stressed that it must be determined whether or not there was negligence on the part of the coaching staff, team officials, medical personnel, or the school itself.
"Ang pinakamahalagang tanong ay hindi kung sino ang nagbitiw. Ang tanong ay ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa boot camp? May kapabayaan ba? Nasunod ba ang tamang health and safety protocols? Totoo bang may muntik nang malunod nung nakaraan?" Tiangco said.
(The most important question is not who resigned. The question is what really happened at the boot camp? Was there negligence? Were proper health and safety protocols followed? Is it true that someone almost drowned before?)
"As an Atenean, bukod sa naawa ako sa nangyari kina Rene at Divine, hindi ako kontento na hangang ngayon ay hindi pa din lumalabas ang katotohanan ng kung ano ang talagang nangyari. Dito dapat magsimula ang lahat, kailangan nating malaman ang buong katotohanan. Utang natin ito sa kanilang mga pamilya at sa lahat ng kabataang atleta na nagtitiwala sa kanilang mga coach at paaralan para sa kanilang kaligtasan at kapakanan," he added.
(As an Atenean, aside from feeling sympathy for what happened to Rene and Divine, I am not content that until now the truth about what really happened has not come out. This is where everything should begin—we need to know the whole truth. We owe this to their families and to all young athletes who trust their coaches and schools for their safety and welfare.)
Earlier, Tiangco filed House Resolution (HR) No. 1112, calling for a congressional inquiry, in aid of legislation, into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.
The resolution seeks to determine whether existing safeguards governing collegiate athletic training programs, medical supervision, emergency response systems, and athlete welfare remain adequate and whether legislative reforms are needed to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
"Hindi ito tungkol sa paninisi. Ngunit hindi rin dapat matigil ang usapin dahil lamang may nagbitiw na. Ang mahalaga ay malaman kung may nagkamali, kung may nagkulang, at kung ano ang kailangang baguhin para hindi na ito maulit," said the legislator from northern Metro Manila.
(This is not about blaming. But the discussion should not stop just because someone resigned. What matters is finding out if mistakes were made, if there were shortcomings, and what needs to be changed so this does not happen again.)
According to him, those directly involved in the planning, supervision, and implementation of the boot camp—including members of the coaching staff and school officials—must help shed light on what transpired.
"Coach Tab should explain what really happened during that boot camp. The families deserve answers. The Ateneo community deserves honest and straightforward answers. The institution must have the courage to confront the truth and act in a manner consistent with the values it teaches—truth, accountability, integrity, and service to others," Tiangco said of the decorated American-Kiwi coach.
"At ang publiko ay may karapatang malaman kung may pagkukulang na nagdulot sa pagkawala ng dalawang kabataang atleta," he noted.
(And the public has the right to know if there were lapses that led to the loss of two young athletes.)
"Our goal is simple: uncover the truth and ensure that no other family suffers the same tragedy," he added.

Related Tags

Ateneo Tab Baldwin Toby Tiangco Drowning Divine Adili Rene Clert Baterbonia ADMU
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