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Student athlete Rene Baterbonia as seen in an image posted March 2026.
Rene Baterbonia 2 on FB
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 5:04 p.m.) — The family of Ateneo athlete Rene Baterbonia has asked the Department of Justice to issue an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order against Ateneo basketball coach Tab Baldwin, as authorities investigate the drowning incident that killed Baterbonia and Nigerian center Divine Adili.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group also asked the DOJ to issue an ILBO against Baldwin, according to Department of Justice spokesperson Polo Martinez.
In a letter to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Thursday, June 11, lawyer Israelito Torreon, counsel for the Baterbonia family, asked the DOJ to issue an ILBO against Baldwin, an American-Kiwi coach, to notify authorities if he attempts to leave the country.
Torreon said the request was not meant to prejudge Baldwin's possible criminal, civil, administrative or disciplinary liability, nor was it being sought as a substitute for a Hold Departure Order.
He said the requested ILBO was intended only as a monitoring mechanism so the DOJ, NBI, PNP and other agencies would be notified if Baldwin attempts to leave the Philippines while the incident remains under investigation.
What an ILBO is. An ILBO does not bar a person from leaving the country, unlike a Hold Departure Order. It alerts law enforcement agencies if the person covered by the bulletin attempts to depart.
In a message to reporters, Martinez said an ILBO may be issued regardless of nationality.
"It may apply to any person who is the subject of an investigation in the Philippines, subject to compliance with the applicable rules and requirements," Martinez said.
NBI probe
On June 10, the DOJ ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to create a special task force to probe the drowning incident that led to the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili on June 8.
In response, the NBI said that while it acknowledged the Aurora Police Provincial Office's initial finding of no foul play, it would still conduct an independent investigation.
"Our respect for the work of the local police does not displace the Bureau's duty to satisfy itself, independently and upon the evidence, of every circumstance surrounding this tragedy," the NBI statement read.
The bureau also said a finding of "no foul play" only rules out intentional harm and does not determine whether the deaths resulted from criminal negligence under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code.
Show-cause order
Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino also announced on June 11 that Baldwin had been issued a show-cause order requiring him to explain his proof of alien employment permit.
Baldwin was ordered to appear before the Department of Labor and Employment on June 15.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio, at a separate press conference, questioned Baldwin's absence from the public eye after the incident.
"Where is Tab Baldwin? Why is he still not speaking up? This is beyond Ateneo," Gregorio said.
"This is a national concern. Out of respect for the family and the Filipino people, he has to come forward. He has been here for 10 years. I don't understand why he can't understand our culture, konting respeto at pakikipagkapwa naman," he added.
(He has been here for 10 years. I don't understand why he can't understand our culture, just a little respect and shared humanity.)
