Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 other university officials will be facing violations of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed Friday.

In a briefing, Remulla said the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) recommended the filing of charges after a thorough investigation into the drowning of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during training in Dipaculao, Aurora, earlier this month.

“The PNP-CIDG recommended the evaluation, case buildup, and preliminary evaluation by the DoJ for violation of RA 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law against the respondents who actually planned and participated in the hazing,” Remulla said.

Aside from Baldwin, the other basketball team officials are Grant Dearms, strength and conditioning coach; Caesar Vincent Javellana Elumba, strength and conditioning coach; Dean Caesar B. Castanaño, assistant coach; Sandro Nicholas Romero Soriano, assistant coach; Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., assistant coach; Paolo Manuel Maceda Adevoso, student manager; Andrew Lorenzo Bondoc, student manager; John Eric Quiambo Rueca, physical therapist; Aris Ramos Prance, utility/ball boy, and Joel Palmiano Rapa, utility/ball boy.

“We have over 620 pages of testimony, all of which corroborate the fact that they were subjected to extreme weather and extreme conditions, which resulted in death. That’s No. 1. No. 2, this is only the recommendation of the CIDG as the complainant in this case, but the final arbiter, or what they will be charged with, will be the DoJ. This is just our recommendation,” Remulla explained.

“They were not physically assaulted, but they were taken to a dangerous location where all of this happened. Under the Anti-Hazing Law, exposure to the elements and forced calisthenics are among the prohibited acts. In this case, the forced calisthenics and exposure to the elements ultimately resulted in the drowning of two individuals,” he said.

DoJ steps in

The PNP-CIDG referral was received by the Department of Justice on Friday for the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez said in a statement, “At this stage, the referral will undergo initial evaluation by the DoJ to determine whether the evidence submitted is complete and sufficient for further proceedings.”

Martinez said that if the evidence is found to be incomplete, the DoJ may refer the case back to the PNP for further case build-up.

He said that if it is found sufficient, the case may be docketed for preliminary investigation.

“The DoJ assures the public that the matter will be evaluated expeditiously and objectively in accordance with the evidence, the law, and applicable procedure,” he said.

Baterbonia and Adili drowned during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on Monday, 8 June.

The authorities believe the circumstances of their deaths may constitute hazing under the Anti-Hazing Act. The DoJ will make the final determination after conducting a preliminary investigation.