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Baterbonias' legal counsel says DOJ received ILBO request for Baldwin, adds Ateneo coach being 'merely on leave concerns us'
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of the late Rene Baterbonia’s family, said the Department of Justice has received its request for the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order on Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.
“The Department of Justice acknowledged receipt of our letter of intent for the issuance of an ILBO against Coach Tab Baldwin. Just to reiterate, this is nothing personal against him. We just have to ensure that he will be present in the investigation that will be conducted by the authorities,” Torreon said.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon said DOJ has acknowledged receipt of their camp’s request for ILBO on Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin @gmanews pic.twitter.com/GnY3lPPTSD
— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) June 11, 2026
Baldwin is currently on leave, along with team manager Epok Quimpo as the university conducts its own inquiry on the death of Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili.
READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident
Asked about the family’s reaction to Baldwin being on leave, Torreon said that it is a concern for them that he is merely on leave.
“Actually, we are hoping that Ateneo will also do some proactive acts. The fact that he is merely on leave concerns us, but since that is the decision of Ateneo, we cannot help but only comment on it. Of course, we cannot control Ateneo, that's Ateneo,” Torreon said.
Has Tab Baldwin reached out to the Baterbonia family? Torreon says Baldwin can course info through him.
— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) June 11, 2026
Torreon also hopes Ateneo cooperates with probe @gmanews pic.twitter.com/Bk3tLfnaCd
The lawyer also said should Baldwin want to talk with the family, the Ateneo coach can course the information through him.
“Kung gusto niyang makipag-usap, he can course the information through me. If the family would be ready, I will bring him to the family. Pero ngayon parang hindi pa sila prepared,” he said.
(If he wants to talk, he can course the information through me. If the family would be ready, I will bring him to the family. But at present, it seems they are not ready.)
Torreon also admitted that his own law firm is also doing its own investigation, but maintained that the family is also cooperating with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
He also said he is hoping that Ateneo would do the same.
“We are hoping that Ateneo and Manila would cooperate with our investigation, that they would allow the teammates to be interviewed likewise, be investigated likewise, without bargains, without exceptions, and especially the coach, the team, composing the advisers of the basketball team,” he said.
—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News
