DILG says it won't press charges vs. other Ateneo players: 'They are also victims'

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will not recommend the inclusion of other student-athletes from the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team as respondents in the charges stemming from the drowning deaths of two former players, saying they were also victims.

“Ang mga batang ito ay miyembro ng Ateneo at ang pangalang ito ang kanilang dala-dala; pangalan na tungkulin ng unibersidad na pangalagaan,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said during a press briefing on Monday.

(These children are members of Ateneo and they carry its name, a name that the university has a duty to protect.)

“Kaugnay nito, aming nililinaw na wala sa ibang mga student-athlete ang nakitaan ng dahilan upang maging respondent sa kasong aming nirekomenda. Sila ay pawang mga biktima rin ng marahas na training na naganap,” he added.

(In this regard, we clarify that none of the other student-athletes were found to have grounds to be named respondents in the case we recommended. They were also victims of the violent training that took place.)

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) earlier recommended the filing of complaints for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, against 11 individuals in connection with the drowning deaths of former Ateneo Blue Eagles players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Those recommended for charges include two student managers and two ball boys.

Ateneo has since reached out to the four to offer support throughout the legal process.

Remulla, however, said the student managers and ball boys may still be turned into state witnesses if it is established that they were unaware of the activity’s alleged harmful intent.

“Bagamat ito ang aming naging rekomendasyon, maaari pa ring maalis sa listahan ng kakasuhan ang ilang mga kasama sa aktibidad, lalo kung mapapakita na hindi nila alam ang masamang layon nito. Maaari ring gawing testigo imbes na akusado ng Department of Justice ang mga student manager at ball boys,” he said.

(Although this was our recommendation, some of those involved in the activity may still be removed from the list of respondents, especially if it can be shown they were unaware of its harmful intent. The Department of Justice may also turn the student managers and ball boys into witnesses instead of accused.)

Remulla said the priority is to hold the team’s coaches accountable, particularly head coach Tab Baldwin.

“Ang pinakamahalaga sa amin ay mapanagot ang siyang mga nagplano at sinadyang pahirapan ang mga student-athlete. Kaya aming rekomendasyon na kasuhan at litisin ang coaches ng Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team, lalo na ang head coach nito na si Tab Baldwin,” he said.

(What matters most to us is holding accountable those who planned and intentionally subjected the student-athletes to hardship. That is why we recommended charges against the coaches of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team, especially its head coach, Tab Baldwin.)

Baldwin, who has since resigned from his post, earlier admitted he did not secure an alien employment permit (AEP) despite working as a basketball coach in the Philippines since 2013.— MCG, GMA News