Ateneo drowning probe: CIDG mum on Baldwin appearance for now

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) declined to comment for now on former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin’s appearance in the investigation into the fatal drownings of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Baldwin had appeared with a team of lawyers before the CIDG in Camp Crame to answer the police investigators’ subpoena shortly before 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 19.

READ: Ateneo drowning probe: Baldwin arrives at CIDG

At 10:40 p.m., pressed by reporters for updates on the investigation, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II said in Filipino, “We did our work… We’re holding other cases, not just that.”

Asked whether Baldwin was still at the CIDG headquarters, Morico answered, “No comment.”

However, some CIDG personnel told reporters that the investigation proceedings had supposedly ended at around 8 p.m. and that Baldwin had allegedly already left the headquarters.

Baterbonia and Adili died after being swept away by large waves while training along the shoreline of Dipaculao, Aurora last June 8.

In a nearly nine-minute video posted on Ateneo’s social media four days after the incident, Baldwin previously apologized for Baterbonia and Adili’s death. He later resigned from his post.

The CIDG subpoenaed Baldwin last Monday over the investigation into the incident, but he only sent his legal counsel, prompting the unit to again summon him to personally appear on Friday.

Baldwin, however, has yet to make a public statement about his appearance at the CIDG.

When Baldwin had arrived at the CIDG headquarters, reporters were barred by police personnel from approaching the building.

PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co previously explained that the CIDG “would like to allow [the investigation] to progress further before making additional statements or providing updates.”

“This is to ensure that the integrity of the investigation is preserved and that the rights of all parties involved are protected and not prejudiced in any way,” Co said in a statement sent to reporters last Tuesday.

“We want to make sure that when we do speak, we speak with accuracy, completeness, and fairness to everyone concerned,” he added. /jpv