Former Ateneo players contradict Tab Baldwin claim of no prior drowning scare

Former players of the Ateneo de Manila University men's basketball team have contradicted the claim of Tab Baldwin, the ball club's erstwhile head coach, that no drowning scare had occurred during a previous training camp.

Speaking at a press briefing, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday that similar incidents nearly turned fatal years before the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.

Remulla said investigators learned this from the testimonies of former Ateneo players who attended a team-building activity in Dipaculao in 2016.

He recalled Baldwin's earlier statement denying that any previous incident had suggested the possibility of drowning.

"We've fielded that question before. There was no incident that even created the idea of drowning," Remulla recalled Baldwin as saying.

However, Remulla presented testimonies from former players that left a different impression.

One former player said two teammates, including Gboy Babilonia, nearly drowned during the 2016 camp after panicking in the water because one of them could not swim.

"During my time in 2016, I participated in the first training camp. My teammates Gboy Babilonia and Ikeh Chibueze nearly drowned at the same water due to panic because Gido was unable to swim," the player's testimony read.

The same former player also recounted his own near-drowning.

"I personally experienced an untoward incident to the point that I almost drowned and gave up, but Coach Yuri Escueta held my hand and helped me with a floating device," the testimony stated.

Another testimony came from Babilonia himself, who said he stepped on what he described as a hidden surface before being pulled underwater by the current.

According to Remulla, Babilonia said he screamed for help before Baldwin rescued him using a surfboard.

"For him to say nothing happened before, yet he himself rescued one of his players in 2016, shows that he was fully aware of what could happen in Dipaculao," Remulla said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary said the previous incidents showed that the fatal tragedy could have been prevented.

Anti-Hazing Law

His statements came as the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) recommended that the Department of Justice pursue a preliminary investigation for possible violations of Republic Act 11053, also known as the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Brian Mey Tomas said investigators found circumstances indicating that the elements of hazing may be present.

According to Tomas, the players were awakened by a siren at around 4 a.m. on June 8 and ordered to run about four kilometers before participating in physically demanding games, where losing teams were allegedly subjected to punishments.

The players later underwent sea-based training from around 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. before being hauled farther offshore.

Authorities said that after a headcount, it was discovered that two players were missing. They were later found dead.

"All these circumstances show that the elements of violation of the Anti-Hazing Law may be present," Tomas said.

Based on its investigation, the CIDG recommended the filing of a complaint before the DOJ against those who allegedly planned and participated in the activity.

Under Section 14 of the Anti-Hazing Act, persons who actually planned or participated in hazing may be held criminally liable when death results from the activity. — VDV, GMA News