Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said it is up to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to determine whether student managers, ball boys, and other minor personnel will remain respondents in the hazing complaint arising from the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes.

The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) earlier recommended filing charges under the Anti-Hazing Act against members of Ateneo's men's basketball coaching staff, including former head coach Tab Baldwin, in connection with the 8 June drowning deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Remulla said the DOJ may remove some individuals from the list of respondents if evidence shows they had no knowledge of the alleged unlawful purpose of the activity.

"Bagamat ito ang aming naging rekomendasyon, maaari pa ring maalis sa listahan ng kakasuhan ang ilang mga kasama sa aktibidad, lalo kung mapapakita na hindi nila alam ang masamang layon nito," he said.

He added that the DOJ may also consider student managers and ball boys as witnesses instead of accused persons.

Remulla stressed that under Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, the presence of a person during a hazing activity constitutes prima facie evidence of participation as a principal, although prosecutors will still evaluate individual liability.

The DILG also urged the DOJ to examine the possible liability of Ateneo officials, saying school administrators have a duty to protect students under the doctrine of in loco parentis.

Remulla clarified that none of the surviving student-athletes who participated in the training activity were recommended as respondents, describing them as victims of the alleged hazing.

The PNP-CIDG's recommendation covers Baldwin; 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 workers and ball boys Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.