Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified on Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has the authority to remove student managers and ball boys from the list of respondents in the June 8 drowning of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes during a teambuilding activity in Aurora province.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) had earlier recommended filing hazing charges against members of the Ateneo men's basketball coaching staff, including former head coach Tab Baldwin. However, Remulla stated that the DOJ's review could lead to some individuals being treated as witnesses instead of accused persons.
Key Clarifications from the DILG Chief
“Bagamat ito ang aming naging rekomendasyon, maaari pa ring maalis sa listahan ng kakasuhan ang ilang mga kasama sa aktibidad, lalo kung mapapakita na hindi nila alam ang masamang layon nito (While this is our recommendation, some participants in the activity may still be removed from the list of respondents, especially if they had no knowledge of the unlawful purpose of the activity),” Remulla told reporters at a press briefing in Camp Crame.
He emphasized that the priority is to hold accountable those who planned and deliberately subjected the student-athletes to abusive training. “Ang pinakamahalaga sa amin ay mapanagot ang siyang mga nagplano at sinadyang pahirapan ang mga student athlete (The most important thing is to hold accountable those who planned and deliberately subjected the student-athletes to abusive training),” he said.
Legal Basis Under the Anti-Hazing Act
Remulla explained that under the Anti-Hazing Act (Republic Act 11053), the mere presence of any person during hazing is prima facie evidence of participation as a principal. However, the DOJ may still exclude those who can prove they had no knowledge of the unlawful purpose.
The DILG chief also noted that school administrators have a duty to act in loco parentis, ensuring student safety. He urged investigators to determine whether university officials failed to prevent the activity that led to the deaths of two student-athletes and caused trauma to others.
Victims, Not Respondents
Remulla clarified that none of the other student-athletes who joined the training exercise were recommended as respondents. “Aming nililinaw na wala sa ibang mga student-athlete ang nakitaan ng dahilan upang maging respondent sa kasong aming nirekomenda. Sila ay pawang mga biktima rin ng marahas na training na naganap (We clarify that none of the other student-athletes were found to have reason to be respondents in the case we recommended. They were all victims of the violent training that took place),” he stressed.
He added that the tragedy has left lasting emotional and psychological effects on the surviving student-athletes, beyond legal accountability.
Broader Implications for School Safety
The DILG said the incident underscores the need to strengthen efforts to keep schools safe from hazing and other forms of abuse. Last Friday, Remulla announced that the PNP-CIDG recommended a preliminary investigation for violation of the Anti-Hazing Act against those who planned and participated in the hazing.
Aside from Baldwin, those recommended for charges include strength and conditioning coaches Grant Dearns and Caesar Vincent Elumba; assistant coaches Dean Caesar Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Soriano, and Reynaldo Jacinto Jr.; student managers Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud; physical therapist John Eric Rueca; and utility/ball boys Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.
The two student-athletes who died were Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a team camp in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
