Only one official from the Ateneo de Manila University basketball program appeared before the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) on Monday as part of the ongoing fact-finding inquiry into the drowning of two student-athletes in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said five members of the team’s management were subpoenaed, but only Emmanuel Fernandez, head of the athletics department, showed up at Camp Crame. He added that head coach Tab Baldwin did not attend the proceedings.
Remulla said Ateneo instead sent legal counsel to represent the other officials, noting that this is allowed under existing rules. However, he warned that failure to comply with a second subpoena scheduled later this week may result in contempt proceedings.
“The only one who appeared is Mr. Em Fernandez. Mr. Baldwin did not appear,” Remulla said, adding that the CIDG will issue another subpoena on Friday to complete the information-gathering process.
He stressed that the inquiry remains a fact-finding exercise and not a criminal prosecution at this stage, aimed at determining the circumstances surrounding the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-related activity on June 8.