Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Police conduct an inspection on June 10, 2026 at the beach resort in Barangay Lipit in Dipaculao, Aurora, where two Ateneo basketball players drowned on June 8. Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Investigators have found inconsistencies between the accounts of Ateneo basketball players and their coaches as authorities continue to piece together what happened during the team-building activity in Aurora that claimed the lives of two student-athletes, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Friday.</p><p>In an ambush interview, Remulla said former Ateneo men&#x27;s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin, assistant coach Dean Castaño, Ateneo University Athletics Office director Emmanuel Fernandez, and other officials appeared before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to provide their testimonies as part of the ongoing fact-finding probe.</p><p>&quot;There are some inconsistencies between what the players said and what the coaches said. Pero hindi pa kami tapos so wala pa kami mabigay na comment hanggang matapos lahat to,&quot; Remulla said.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F4012466252223127%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Remulla noted that players and coaches witnessed the incident from different locations.</p><p>“In the heat of it all kasi, ‘yung nangyari ang lahat… Ibang accounts ng players, ibang accounts ng coaches kasi ibang vantage points. ‘Yung mga players nasa dagat, yung mga coaches nasa pangpang,” he explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/19/ateneo-coach-tab-baldwin-attends-cidg-probe-into-athletes-deaths-0851">Resigned Ateneo coach Baldwin attends CIDG probe into athletes&#x27; deaths</a></div><p>Authorities are currently gathering all available testimonies and evidence before drafting a conclusive report.</p><p>Investigators are also looking into drone footage that may shed light on the incident.</p><p>According to Remulla, Baldwin had a drone during the emergency, while the resort where the activity was held also reportedly deployed a separate drone during rescue efforts.</p><p>“‘Yung kay Tab Baldwin parang two minutes lang at the condition tapos nag-fail ‘yung drone niya pero the resort I think put up another drone and we are trying to get to reach,” he said.</p><p>Remulla said investigators are also examining possible institutional accountability, a process that could take at least another week.</p><p>“We are piecing together the testimonies of what makes sense and what doesn’t and it will take us a while, it will take us another week before we come up kasi kulang. ‘Yung culpability ng institution is kailangan rin namin mahanap so we need a full investigation,&quot; he said.</p><p>The DILG chief underscored the importance of Baldwin&#x27;s testimony, describing him as a key decision-maker during the activity.</p><p>Asked whether investigators had already found any violations on Baldwin&#x27;s part, Remulla said it was too early to make conclusions.</p><p>Meanwhile, Ateneo president Fr. Roberto &quot;Bobby&quot; Yap was unable to attend Friday&#x27;s proceedings due to the university&#x27;s graduation ceremonies.</p><p>Remulla said Yap has been subpoenaed and is expected to appear before investigators next week.</p><p>Most of the coaching staff attended the CIDG inquiry, although team manager Epok Quimpo was absent, according to Remulla.</p><p>The fact-finding investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to establish a complete timeline of events and determine whether any individuals or institutions may be held accountable for the tragedy.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/ateneo-student-council-calls-for-community-walkout-1731">Ateneo student council calls for community walkout</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zOFwBifpBV8?si=zb8noQmPpwlQ-gED" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Investigators have found inconsistencies between the accounts of Ateneo basketball players and their coaches as authorities continue to piece together what happened during the team-building activity in Aurora that claimed the lives of two student-athletes, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.</p>

Investigators have found inconsistencies between the accounts of Ateneo basketball players and their coaches as authorities continue to piece together what happened during the team-building activity in Aurora that claimed the lives of two student-athletes, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

DILG notes inconsistencies in accounts of Ateneo players, coaches in Aurora tragedy probe

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DILG notes inconsistencies in accounts of Ateneo players, coaches in Aurora tragedy probe

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 19, 2026 03:23 PM PHT

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DILG

CIDG

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Tab Baldwin

probe

drowning

Rene Baterbonia

Divine Adili

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