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Cristina Chi - Philstar.com
June 19, 2026 | 10:24am
MANILA, Philippines — Former Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball coach Tab Baldwin has appeared before the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, almost two weeks after the drowning deaths of two of his players and after twice failing to heed earlier summonses.
Baldwin arrived at the CIDG offices around 8 a.m. on Friday, June 19.
His appearance followed a fresh subpoena and a warning from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that he could be cited for contempt if he did not answer the summons a second time.
The coach had previously snubbed summons from both the CIDG and the National Bureau of Investigation. His lawyer said he was "not in a good condition to appear."
The incident. Rene Baterbonia, an incoming rookie, and Divine Adili, a basketball player from Nigeria, drowned on June 8 during a training camp in Dipaculao, in the province of Aurora.
The two players' bodies were recovered roughly 300m away after they were swept out by the current.
Police investigators have rejected the idea that the deaths were a mere accident. "As far as CIDG is concerned, this is not an accident," CIDG's director, Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II, said, adding that players had told investigators they were aware of the strong currents before the activity began.
The CIDG is considering charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, or breaches of the Anti-Hazing Act.
Baldwin and three other Ateneo officials skipped a fact-finding session at Camp Crame on June 15, where they were represented instead by lawyers.
The former coach also missed an NBI hearing, where his counsel, Karl Justeen David, said he was unwell but would cooperate with investigations.
The Department of Justice has issued immigration lookout bulletin orders against Baldwin, former team manager Christopher Quimpo, and assistant coaches Reynaldo Jacinto Jr, Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano.
Under Republic Act 10973, failing to comply with a CIDG subpoena can lead to a contempt case in a regional trial court.
Baldwin's public statement. Baldwin has spoken publicly about the deaths only once. In a pre-recorded video posted by Ateneo on June 12, he apologized to the families and said he had failed as a coach.
"As a coach, I'm entrusted by you, the parents and the families, with first and foremost, their well-being. And in this, I feel I've failed. And I'm sorry," he said.
He recounted sending the players on a routine training run "in what we thought was shallow water."
Ateneo's president, Fr. Roberto Yap, has also apologized and accepted Baldwin's resignation.
The university says it is conducting its own fact-finding inquiry.
