By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin allegedly knew that five of his players could not swim before conducting a water training exercise in Aurora that ended in the deaths of two student-athletes, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed on Friday.
Speaking during a press briefing in Quezon City, Remulla said investigators found that Baldwin had asked his players who among them were non-swimmers before the activity.
“They knew there was a possibility something could happen because Baldwin asked who among the players couldn’t swim. Five admitted they could not,” Remulla said.
Despite this, the training reportedly pushed through, with Baldwin allegedly giving instructions on how to deal with rip currents.
“But how do you teach players to survive rip currents when they don’t even know how to swim?” Remulla asked.
The June 8 team-building activity in Aurora turned tragic after Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili were swept away by strong waves and drowned.
At the same briefing, DILG Legal and Legislative Affairs Office chief Brian Tomas disclosed that Baldwin told police investigators he deliberately scheduled the training camp from June 7 to June 12 after checking tide forecasts.
Tomas said Baldwin was aware that high tide was expected at 2:27 p.m. on June 8, yet the players were instructed to conduct water exercises between 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., when sea conditions were becoming hazardous.
Following the police investigation, the Philippine National Police recommended that Baldwin and 10 other individuals undergo preliminary investigation for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.
Remulla explained that the Anti-Hazing Law covers activities involving forced physical exercises and exposure to dangerous environmental conditions, circumstances that investigators believe may have been present during the Aurora training session.
Baldwin has since expressed remorse over the tragedy, issuing a public apology through Ateneo’s official social media channels and extending condolences to the families of Baterbonia and Adili.
The recommendation for preliminary investigation will now be evaluated by prosecutors, who will determine whether criminal charges should be formally filed against Baldwin and the other respondents.
ia/xf
