After days of public scrutiny and backlash, Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher “Epok” Quimpo resigned on Monday after investigations into the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili began.
The recent development was announced by Ateneo president Fr. Bobby Yap, SJ, and was made days after Baldwin had broken his silence regarding the incident.
In a press conference held inside the campus, Yap said the university is ready to face the consequences of the tragedy, adding that it will not “shield or protect anyone, nor will we allow the integrity to be compromised”.
Ateneo president apologises for the accident
In the press conference, Yap publicly apologised and said that the university is still mourning the loss of their two athletes, saying, “No word in any language is capable of describing this loss.”
“When a young man dies, we mourn both the loss of life and the shattering of dreams. We mourn the potential that won’t come true, the empty chairs at family dinner tables, and the futures that were supposed to unfold on our playing courts and far beyond them,” he added.
“On behalf of Ateneo de Manila University, I am here to say simply and directly: We are truly, deeply sorry. We apologise unreservedly to the families and to our entire community for the agonising pain of this tragedy.”
Baldwin no-show in fact-finding probe
On Monday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) commenced the investigation into the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili, where Baldwin and Quimpo failed to appear.
According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, only Ateneo Athletics Office head Em Fernandez appeared before the investigation.
With this, Remulla said that the CIDG will issue another subpoena on Friday to ensure that Baldwin and Quimpo attend, as a second absence will warrant contempt of court, as stated in Republic Act No. 10973.
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NBI also issues subpoenas
As the investigation into the matter gained ground, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also subpoenaed Baldwin, Ateneo players, and other officials on Tuesday.
According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the NBI is conducting an investigation, adding that the agency has already gathered statements from people in the area, including the resort owner and local officials.
Baldwin’s alleged wife speaks up
As the issue turned dramatic, a woman named “Efi”, who identified herself as Baldwin’s estranged wife, claimed that she and her daughter had earlier warned Ateneo about Baldwin, saying that children are not safe with him, and asked for his removal from campus.
In a video, the woman stated that she has been legally married to Baldwin since 2011. She said that she and her daughter were forced to leave in early 2020, citing fears for their safety.
“At the time, I repeatedly told Ateneo University that children are not safe around him, and it was their duty to remove him. I urged them to move him away from the campus, the university campus, and they proceeded to launch a campaign of intimidation and silencing,” she said.
Following this statement, the Philippine National Police said it is carefully considering and looking into the statements as part of the ongoing investigation.
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