Ateneo team-building used to 'screen' UAAP roster —DILG

The fatal team-building activity that claimed the lives of two Ateneo basketball players in Dipaculao, Aurora was allegedly used to determine which athletes would make the team’s final University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) roster, investigators said Friday.

Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin also allegedly knew that at least five players could not swim, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

DILG Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs Brian Mey R. Tomas, meanwhile, said investigators found evidence that the activity was not merely a team-building exercise but served as a "requirement" for continuing membership in the team.

According to Tomas, 20 athletes attended the training camp, but only 17 would eventually be included in Ateneo’s final UAAP lineup.

“The supposed team-building activity conducted in Aurora was precisely made to determine which members of the team would make it to the final list submitted by Coach Tab Baldwin to the UAAP,” Tomas said.

He said witness testimonies showed the activity was intended to assess the players’ physical condition and mental toughness rather than basketball skills.

Tomas cited the testimony of assistant coach Louie Alas, who allegedly said the camp “was not a basketball-specific activity” but was meant to determine the condition and mental toughness of the players.

“These circumstances point to the fact that this supposed team-building is really geared towards identifying which players will be fit for the final roster of UAAP players,” he added.

Rip currents

According to Remulla, Baldwin initially asked the players who among them could not swim, and five raised their hands.

Despite this, the coach allegedly proceeded with the activity after explaining how to deal with rip currents.

“Nakaplano na ang seawater training nila at tinanong niya, ang mga hindi marunong lumangoy? Lima ang nagsabi na hindi sila marunong. Noong nalaman niya na hindi marunong lumangoy, binigyan niya ng information kung paano mag-handle ng rip currents,” Remulla said.

(They had already planned their seawater training and he asked, what about those who couldn't swim? Five said they couldn't. When he found out they couldn't swim, he gave them information on how to handle rip currents.)

"So, alam niyang hindi marunong lumangoy, tinuruan niya pa rin paano mag-handle ng rip current so alam talaga niya. He was on full knowledge that this could possibly happen," he added.

(So, he knew he couldn't swim, he still taught him how to handle rip currents so he really knew. He was on full knowledge that this could possibly happen.)

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has recommended the filing of complaints against Baldwin and 10 others in connection to the incident for possible violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act.

Remulla said the recommendation will be forwarded to the Department of Justice, which will determine whether probable cause exists and what charges, if any, should be filed.

Ateneo said it respects the CIDG’s recommendation to pursue a preliminary investigation into the incident.

“We acknowledge the CIDG’s recommendation and respect the work it has undertaken in the course of its investigation,” university spokesperson Fr. Rene “RB” Hizon, SJ said in a statement.

“We are confident that the facts will be fully and fairly evaluated through the proper process,” Hizon added.

Apology, support

Baldwin has already apologized to the families of the players.

"I'm sorry. To the depth of my being, I'm sorry," Baldwin said.

Baldwin also recalled the moments that happened during the unfortunate incident.

“On that fateful day when we sent the players out for a routine training run in what we thought was shallow water, up to the moment when we realized that whatever had happened, they were in dangerous water. We did everything that we could,” Baldwin said.

Ateneo President Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Yap, meanwhile, said they will continue to support the families of student athletes Rene Barterbonia and Divine Adili, who died in a drowning incident.

“What I really like to say is, we have condoled, we have apologized, and we continue to support them. We have provided assistance and we will continue to support them,” Yap said.

Yap declined to give any more comments, saying he wanted to respect the privacy of the conversations.

“You cannot imagine— I cannot imagine the grief of Mrs. Baterbonia, Mr. Baterbonia. I cannot imagine the grief of Mr. Adili and Mrs. Adili.” he said.

“I really like that we respect the grieving,” he added.

Yap was at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Homicide Division on Friday to give a statement on the incident. —VAL, GMA News