Remulla: Student managers, utility staff may be excluded from Ateneo drowning charges

MANILA, Philippines – Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday, June 29, announced the possibility of excluding Ateneo student managers and utility personnel from being charged over the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) has recommended to the Department of Justice the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 against 11 individuals, including utility personnel Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa and student managers Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud, in connection with the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili during the Blue Eagles’ team building in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8. 

Others identified by the CIDG were resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, assistant coaches Jon Jacinto, Dean Castaño, and Sandro Soriano, strength and conditioning coaches Grant Dearns and CJ Elumba, and physical therapist Jerick Rueca.

Under the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, the presence of any person during the hazing is prima facie (at face) evidence of participation. 

“Although it was our recommendation, some of those who were present in the activity may be removed from the list of individuals to be charged, especially if it can be proven that they were unaware of its wrongful intent,” said Remulla in Filipino. 

“The Department of Justice may also make the student managers and ball boys witnesses instead of accused.” 

Last Friday, June 26, Remulla said the seawater activity that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili featured elements of hazing under RA 11053, including physical or psychological suffering, prerequisite for admission or requirement for continuing membership, and forced calisthenics and exposure to weather.

Remulla added that Baldwin also knew of the fact that some of the players were non-swimmers, including Adili, but still pushed through with the activity. 

“What is most important to us is for those who planned and deliberately subjected the student-athletes to hardship to be held accountable. It is our recommendation that the coaches of the Ateneo men’s basketball team be charged and tried, especially its head coach Tab Baldwin,” said Remulla.

Although Remulla said on Friday that Ateneo administrators, most notably university president Fr. Roberto Yap and athletics director Em Fernandez, were unaware of the activity, he clarified on Monday that the school is still responsible as it exercises special parental authority under the law. 

“The investigation should determine whether [Ateneo] failed in possibly preventing the activity that resulted in the deaths of two students and the trauma suffered by the other participants in the said training,” Remulla said. 

Remulla also maintained that the other players, who have bore the brunt of the blame over the incident, are mere victims as well.

“We clarify that no other student-athlete was found to have any basis for being made a respondent in the case that we recommend. They are all victims of the severe training that took place,” said Remulla. – Rappler.com