Police reconstruct crime scene where Ateneo players drowned in Aurora

Police investigators and local authorities on Tuesday began reconstructing the crime scene at the beach in Dipaculao, Aurora where Ateneo de Manila University basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned.

Philippine National Police (PNP) units, namely the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Forensic Group, and the Aurora and Central Luzon police, along with the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), started the reconstruction effort at 4:30 a.m.

The Ateneo men's basketball team was conducting their team-building activity early morning on June 8 before things took a tragic turn at the beach.

In a statement on Tuesday, the CIDG said the reconstruction seeks to identify and analyze the conditions at the time of the incident, including "exact seawater situation."

Among the goals is to measure tide lines by calculating the distance between dry beach surfaces and the water line to assess high tide conditions.

According to accounts from some Ateneo players, they were in a line formation in the water when rip currents suddenly crashed and pulled some of them away.

The reconstruction also wants to map out where the victims were located and last seen by comparing CCTV footage with testimonies from players, coaches, and witnesses.

Further, the activity seeks to "determine depth and distance" by measuring "how far out the victims were" and water's depth when the incident occurred.

The CIDG noted that specialized equipment was brought in to accurately gather information.

"The Investigating Team deployed and utilized SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) to map underwater topography and depth, and 3D scanner to capture highly accurate spatial data of the shoreline and scene," the CIDG said.

Warning signages and emergency safety measures along the beachfront area are also undergoing safety audit as part of the probe.

The CIDG assured that the investigators are "leaving no stone unturned" in examining evidence, scientific data, and evaluating every witness account.

In a press briefing last Friday, CIDG Director Police Major General Alexander Morico II said the investigation so far shows that the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili could not be classified as an accident.

Morico had said the incident happened about 300 to 700 meters away from the front of the resort. The recovery effort was conducted 300 meters near the resort as players were swept by the current.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has said there were inconsistencies in the statements given by the Ateneo players and coaching staff, although he noted that this may be due to their differing vantage points during the incident.

Former Ateneo basketball head coach Tab Baldwin appeared Friday before the CIDG in relation to its investigation on the drowning. — VDV, GMA News