Jamaine Punzalan

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17824389120241782438911114.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. Photos from UAAP Media/NBTC<br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)" id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has recommended hazing raps against resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others involved in the team-building activity in Aurora, which claimed the lives of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</p><p>“Ang Anti-Hazing Act ay revised na po ‘yan… Ang dati pong iniisip natin, ang hazing ay initiations lamang. Ngunit dito, ang team-building at training ay nag-cross over papunta sa hazing,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a press briefing where the CIDG presented its findings.</p><p>Under the law, hazing “refers to any act that results in physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, neophyte, applicant or member,” he said. These acts include “forced calisthenics and exposure to weather,” the official added.</p><p>Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned after they swept away by waves while in waist-deep water at a resort in Dipaculao town.</p><p>The activity was meant to “determine which members of the team will make it to the final list submitted by Coach Baldwin to the UAAP Board,” DILG Assistant Secretary Brian Tomas noted, citing CIDG probe findings.</p><p>“The CIDG found that the seawater-based activity constitutes hazing because there is a deliberate intent to cause suffering among players. This is evident in the fact that Tab Baldwin, in his own testimony with the CIDG, admitted that they intentionally chose the dates June 7-12 to coincide with the low tide,” Tomas said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0KeyH9QZMA3EioPhHPJdV7y7LcX6gZuEXKUgyHKsAji79hz1zte1jzCJkBpWpkN9Tl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="721" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span> </div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘INTENSE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY’ EVEN BEFORE DAWN </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Based on the players’ itinerary, they were “subjected to intense physical activity starting at 4 a.m., when they were woken by a siren and were made to run for 4 kilometers,” Tomas said.</p><p>“This was subsequently followed by intense physical games and punishment for losers in these games,” he said.</p><p>“All these circumstances show that the elements of violation of the anti-hazing law may be present,” the official said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘TRAGEDY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED’</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Remulla noted that in 2016, Baldwin also organized a similar activity for the Blue Eagles in the same area. A player told the CIDG that two of his teammates “nearly drowned in the seawater due to panic” and were rescued by Baldwin and another coaching staff. </p><p>“Fully aware siya (Baldwin) sa mga puwedeng mangyari doon sa  Dipaculao,,” Remulla said. </p><p>“This tragedy could have been avoided,” he added. </p><p>In the latest team-building activity, 5 players informed Baldwin that they did not know how to swim, Remulla said.</p><p>“Noong nalaman niya na hindi marunong lumangoy, binigyan niya ng information kung paano mag-handle ng rip currents… He was of full knowledge that this could happen. Ang mahirap rito, paano mo tuturuan ang hindi marunong lumangoy na mag-handle ng rip current,” he said.</p><p>He said the CIDG’s recommendations include a preliminary investigation and case build-up by the Department of Justice against Baldwin and 10 other respondents who “planned and participated in the hazing.”</p><p>In a statement, the Ateneo De Manila University said: “We acknowledge the CIDG&#x27;s recommendation and respect the work it has undertaken in the course of its investigation.” </p><p>Ateneo spokesperson Fr. RB Hizon, SJ noted that other investigations remained ongoing and the university would “continue to cooperate fully with all competent authorities.” </p><p>“We are confident that the facts will be fully and fairly evaluated through the proper process. Throughout this process, Ateneo remains steadfast in its commitment to accountability, student welfare, and the highest standards of safety and institutional responsibility,” he said. </p><p>He added that Ateneo would “continue to support the families of those involved” and “strengthen the reforms already underway to help ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.”</p><div><em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4sFMmvbD84?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>The CIDG has recommended a preliminary investigation by the justice department for violation of the Anti-Hazing Act against resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others involved in the team-building activity in Aurora. </p>

The CIDG has recommended a preliminary investigation by the justice department for violation of the Anti-Hazing Act against resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others involved in the team-building activity in Aurora.

CIDG eyes hazing raps vs Tab Baldwin, 10 others

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CIDG eyes hazing raps vs Tab Baldwin, 10 others

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 26, 2026 10:42 AM PHT

|

Updated June 26, 2026 11:36 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo

Adili

Baterbonia

basketball

Blue Eagles

drowning

Aurora

team building

DILG

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