Remulla: Ateneo athletics chief appears before CIDG, Baldwin no-show

[Updated June 15, 2026, 11:51 a.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Only Ateneo de Manila University athletics director Em Fernandez personally appeared before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame on Monday morning.

That is for the investigation into the fatal drowning of men’s basketball team players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Speaking to reporters at the CIDG after Fernandez’ appearance, Remulla said the PNP had subpoenaed five members of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team management.

Head coach Tab Baldwin, team manager Epok Quimpo and team chaplain Fr. Nemy Que, however, did not personally appear and instead sent a team of lawyers to explain the incident, Remulla added.

He did not immediately identify the fifth individual subpoenaed.

READ: Ateneo grads say school must ‘do better’ in Baterbonia-Adili probe

Remulla noted that the CIDG will again subpoena Baldwin, Quimpo, Que and other members of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team management.

And if they again fail to personally appear before the CIDG, those subpoenaed may be charged with indirect contempt.

“Last week, the events that unfolded mostly [were] a fault-finding exercise. Today is a fact-finding exercise” Remulla said in an interview upon arriving in Camp Crame ahead of the Ateneo management’s expected appearance.

“We are not here to arrest. We are not here to charge but merely to gather the facts. We’re only getting what happened, who authorized it, how they traveled there and who had ordered it,” he added.

Republic Act No. 10973 gives the PNP chief and the CIDG director and deputy director the power to issue subpoenas for its investigations.

“Failure to comply with subpoena and subpoena duces tecum shall authorize the filing of a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the Regional Trial Court,” RA No. 10973 states.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez was also present at the CIDG during the Ateneo management’s expected appearance.

CIDG personnel barred the media from approaching their headquarters.

The team of lawyers, whom reporters saw enter the CIDG at around 9 a.m. and leave shortly before 10 a.m., did not approach the media.

Baterbonia and Adili died after they were supposedly swept away by a current while training along the shoreline of a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8.

At least 24 players and seven coaching staff were present during the supposed training activity, according to the Commission on Higher Education.

The Aurora Provincial Police Office previously confirmed Baldwin was among those present.

Baldwin apologized over the incident in an eight-minute video posted on the university’s social media four days after the incident. /mr