Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Several membes of the Ateneo de Manila University basketball team appeared before separate probes of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday to shed light on the drowning of their teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. </p><p>Those who faced the CIDG included players who were part of the team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, where Baterbonia and Adili drowned on June 8.</p><p>Meanwhile, 11 current and former members of the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team appeared before the NBI and submitted swon statements, including Kieffer Alas, Grayson Rogers, Sultan Baruwa, Logan Baltazar, Michael Asoro, Sam Reyes, Matthew De Luna, Kyle Ong, and Lebron Nieto. </p><p>Baruwa had been the roommate of both Baterbonia and Adili. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/-we-re-proud-of-him-we-ll-always-celebrate-him-divine-adili-s-parents-honor-memory-of-son-1051">&#x27;We&#x27;re proud of him, we&#x27;ll always celebrate him&#x27;: Divine Adili&#x27;s parents honor son&#x27;s memory</a></div><p>According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the statements gathered from the players would form part of the evidence in the continuing investigation.</p><p>“Wala pa naman tayong tinitingnan ng kaso, kaya wala tayong sasabihin pa na state witnesses or whistleblowers. Kung ano yung kanilang statements, that will be sworn statement and that will be subject to evidence yet,” Matibag said.</p><p>Matibag said the investigation would not be completed by Friday as initially expected, although Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin is anticipated to arrive by then.</p><p>“Just like with the Coach Tab, nagpasabi niya sa baka Friday. So tomorrow until Friday, meron pa kami mga personalities na i-investigate,” he added. <em></em></p><p>While declining to reveal any preliminary findings, Matibag emphasized that the NBI is taking a professional approach in dealing with the players, considering the traumatic nature of the incident they experienced.</p><p>“We have to realize also, these kids suffered enough also. May trauma din yan eh. So I just want to make an assurance now. The NBI will handle it professionally…sabi ko nga sa kanila, the investigation will lead to somebody being responsible, doon natin dadalhin,” he said.</p><p>Matibag said investigators were also looking into the team manager’s claim that he was not present during the team-building activity, as well as the statement from Ateneo’s Office of College Athletics that it <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/ateneo-college-athletics-office-says-it-did-not-organize-approve-basketball-team-building-activity-0719">neither organized nor approved the outing.</a></p><p>“That will be part of the factual findings na wala siya. Pero ang titingnan natin nga, what are the participation prior and after the incident and during the incident,” he said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/16/kieffer-alas-says-ateneo-team-building-not-an-initiation-rite-1953">Kieffer Alas says Ateneo team-building not an ‘initiation rite’</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/15/admu-president-says-school-reached-out-to-victims-families-after-drowning-incident-1528">Ateneo president says university reached out Baterbonia, Adili families after drowning incident</a></div><p>A former Atenean himself, Matibag expressed sympathy for those affected by the tragedy.</p><p>“Well, actually, Atenean or not Atenean, this is a sad incident na nangyari. Malungkot ito, lalo-lalo na sa sports community. And of course, we feel with the parents also yung kanilang grieving and the entire Atenean community,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>48 PERSONS UNDER SUBPOENA</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, CIDG director PMGen. Robert Morico II said a total of 48 individuals have been subpoenaed, including former and current Ateneo basketball players, coaching staff, and first responders, to shed light on what happened during the team&#x27;s training activity.</p><p>&quot;We are expecting to interview under subpoena 48 persons. As of June 16, there were 10 who were subpoenaed and they appeared. Most of them are former players,&quot; Morico said. </p><p>&quot;The purpose is to gain insight on their past experiences and gather information, especially those who underwent the so-called team building or boot camp,&quot; he added.</p><p>Earlier, only 7 of the 10 subpoenaed individuals appeared, all of whom are current players. </p><p>To ensure the welfare of those participating in the investigation, Morico said psychiatrists and psychologists were made available for assistance if needed. </p><p>Some of the respondents were accompanied by their parents, while all were represented by their lawyers.</p><p>The CIDG said additional players and staff are expected to appear in the coming days, with coaching staff and other concerned individuals scheduled to attend on Thursday and Friday.</p><p>The agency has also issued another subpoena to resigned Ateneo Men&#x27;s Basketball Team head coach Tab Baldwin, requiring him to submit drone and aerial footage taken during the training activity.</p><p>&quot;We are asking him to bring with him the aerial footages of the drone during the conduct of the training because he is the one who has the CCTV footages from the start when they had a formation at the resort until the time the incident happened,&quot; Morico said.</p><p>CIDG also confirmed coordination with the NBI, stressing that both agencies are sharing findings to strengthen the case build-up.</p><p>&quot;From day one, we are both investigative agencies. We are exchanging notes,&quot; Morico assured as they prepare for airtight cases. </p><p>Authorities said the continuing testimonies and submitted materials are being evaluated as part of efforts to establish a clearer picture of the events that led to the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/16/ateneo-de-davao-retires-rene-baterbonia-s-no-2-jersey-renames-court-in-his-honor-1408">Ateneo de Davao retires Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s No. 2 jersey, renames court in his honor</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/15/cidg-eyes-possible-hazing-homicide-charges-in-deaths-of-2-ateneo-student-athletes-1706">CIDG eyes possible hazing, homicide charges in deaths of 2 Ateneo student-athletes</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/16/baldwin-misses-nbi-probe-but-will-fully-cooperate-says-lawyer-1352">‘Not in good condition’: Baldwin misses NBI probe but will ‘fully cooperate,’ says lawyer</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MnLkD7WG6LA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Several basketball players of the Ateneo Blue Eagles appeared before separate probes of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday to shed light on the drowning of their teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</p>

Several basketball players of the Ateneo Blue Eagles appeared before separate probes of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday to shed light on the drowning of their teammates Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Ateneo basketball players face CIDG, NBI probe on teammates’ drowning

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Ateneo basketball players face CIDG, NBI probe on teammates’ drowning

Karen De Guzman,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 17, 2026 10:27 AM PHT

|

Updated June 17, 2026 08:00 PM PHT

Read More:

CIDG

NBI

Ateneo

basketball

basketball players

drowning

Divine Adili

Rene Baterbonia

Ateneo Blue eagles

Ateneo de Manila University

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