NBI summons Baldwin, Ateneo team in probe of Baterbonia and Adili deaths

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has issued a subpoena to Tab Baldwin, the head coach of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Monday.

“Tomorrow, we subpoenaed Coach Tab Baldwin and the players of Ateneo and some of the officials of Ateneo,” he said in a press briefing.

This came amid its investigation into the deaths of basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili on June 8.

Meanwhile, Matibag said they will first validate the identity of the woman who identified herself as Baldwin’s wife. The woman said she warned Ateneo that minors were unsafe around Baldwin.

“We’re not discounting it. We’re not saying na hindi natin pakikinggan or tututukan. That will be part of the investigation. That will be part of the questions that will be answered,” he said.

Matibag said the NBI has no conclusion yet and will go where the evidence leads.

Baldwin and the men's basketball team manager Epok Quimpo, have resigned.

In a video posted by the university, Baldwin apologized to the players' families. Baterbonia’s mother has said that an apology is not enough.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Monday that it is looking into the possibility of homicide or violation of the anti-hazing law in the deaths of Ateneo de Manila University basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

“What can I say right now is the investigation is now turned into a possible homicide investigation…which is possibly a violation of Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018. It depends po doon sa ongoing na interview namin na tinatanggap sa mga players,” said CIDG Director Police Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II in a press briefing.

On June 8, Baterbonia and Adili both died due to asphyxia by drowning during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

The provincial police office of Aurora earlier said that there were no weights attached to the bodies of the two varsity players when they drowned. –NB, GMA News