DoJ reviews Baldwin referral

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has referred former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and 11 others to the Department of Justice (DoJ) for possible criminal charges over the drowning deaths of two student-athletes during a team training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

The referral came after the NBI Homicide Division completed its investigation into the 8 June incident that claimed the lives of Ateneo players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

The NBI found probable basis to pursue charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against Baldwin, six assistant coaches and the team’s physical therapist. Those named were former head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin; strength and conditioning coaches Ceasar Vincent Elumba and Grant Dearns; assistant coaches Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Romero and Hernan Ameer Domingo; and physical therapist John Eric Ruecay Quiambao.

The bureau also referred Ateneo Athletic Director Emmanuel Fernandez and resort owners and managers Francisco Zubia III, Frederick Zubia and Yedda Mary Molina Rubio for simple negligence resulting in two counts of homicide.

Justice Secretary Frederick Vida clarified Monday that the NBI’s submission was a referral report, not a recommendation, and would be consolidated with the complaint earlier filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

“Actually, it’s not a recommendation. They referred their report to us,” Vida said.

He said the DoJ is now reviewing both submissions as part of a single proceeding.