Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin has yet to submit his formal statement to investigators on the drowning of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Aurora police director Col. Percival Pineda said Baldwin was among those present when the incident happened last Monday, but investigators were unable to immediately obtain his account because he was still in shock.
“He was present. When they reached the deep portion of the sea, everyone helped. He was part of the group that tried to rescue them,” Pineda told reporters on Thursday.
Pineda said police have yet to determine whether Baldwin was directly supervising the activity at the time of the incident.
According to Pineda, investigators went to the resort after the drowning to speak with Baldwin, but the interview did not push through because of his condition.
“He was seen by our investigators, but they couldn’t talk to him,” Pineda said, stressing that Baldwin did not refuse to give a statement.
Two members of the coaching staff, Reynaldo Jacinto and Dean Castaño, were instead sent to the police station to provide initial accounts of what happened.
So far, Pineda said, no other team members have given statements to the Philippine National Police.
With the team and coaching staff already back in Metro Manila, Pineda said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will now handle the gathering of additional statements as the probe continues.
Police have also obtained closed-circuit television footage from the beach resort showing the team’s activities before the drowning.
Pineda said the footage is now with the CIDG and will be forwarded to the Anti-Cybercrime Group for forensic examination.