CIDG: 3 Ateneo ‘authorities’ persons of interest in drowning case

Updated at 7:14 pm

MANILA, Philippines — At least three Ateneo de Manila University officials are persons of interest in the case involving the drowning of basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said the unit had identified several individuals as persons of interest in the case.

Asked exactly how many people were considered persons of interest in the investigation, Morico answered, “Not less than three.”

Pressed to identify them, Morico replied, “They are the school authorities who were together with the team. They brought the team to Aurora.”

READ: Ateneo coaches, players subpoenaed over drowning incident — DILG

Baterbonia and Adili drowned while participating in a supposed training activity in an area along the shore, some 300 meters from a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora, last Monday afternoon, according to provincial police.

“We’re trying to establish if the school authorities prepared for the safety of the athletes,” Morico explained.

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.

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.”

This came amid speculation that weights had been attached to the two athletes’ bodies as part of their supposed training activities.

Asked about the rumors, Morico said, “Those are allegations gathered on social media.”

“There are also allegations from former athletes that they were afraid of going to Aurora,” he added.

The CIDG chief also noted that police investigators may also invite past Ateneo men’s basketball players in connection with the investigation.

“I think they are interested in helping,” he added.

Pressed on whether the case was ruling out foul play, Morico said, “After we have already interviewed the persons of interest, the participants, that’s the time we can make a formal conclusion.”

The Aurora police previously ruled out foul play in the incident, citing that the two athletes were dragged far from the shoreline by a current.

The provincial police also maintained that no weights were found on the two victims. /mcm