CIDG seeks lookout order vs persons of interest in Ateneo drowning case
Updated at 7:00 pm
MANILA, Philippines — The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order against several persons of interest in the drowning incident involving the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team.
If issued, an immigration lookout bulletin order would instruct the Bureau of Immigration to monitor the subjects of the directive.
“We requested one from the Department of Justice to prevent certain persons of interest from leaving the country. One of them is a foreign national,” CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday.
READ: Ateneo coaches, players subpoenaed over drowning incident — DILG
Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned while participating in a supposed training activity at an area along the shore some 300 meters away from a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora last Monday afternoon, according to the provincial police.
Earlier on Thursday, the legal counsel of Baterbonia’s family asked the DOJ to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order against Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin over the incident.
Baldwin was present at the site of the incident when it occurred, Aurora police chief Col. Percival Pineda previously told reporters.
“Ateneo is Ateneo. They have money. They have the capability to travel abroad,” Morico said.
Earlier on Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed that the PNP-CIDG began its probe into the incident and subpoenaed all the coaching staff and players at the supposed training activities.
Morico, however, declined to specify whether Baldwin was among the persons subpoenaed and the individuals against whom immigration lookout bulletin orders were requested.
In its statement, the DILG said part of the investigation was the “examination of possible violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.”
In light of these developments, asked whether the CIDG was keeping track of Baldwin’s location, Morico answered, “Well, right now, he is not a fugitive from justice. So, I cannot say that we are monitoring him.” /mcm
