Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla clarified on Monday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) holds the final say on whether student managers and ball boys will be dropped as respondents in the June 8 drowning of two student-athletes during a team-building activity in Aurora.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) previously recommended filing hazing charges against members of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball coaching staff, including former head coach Tab Baldwin.
“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,” Remulla told reporters in a press briefing held at Camp Crame.
”Ang pinakamahalaga sa amin ay mapanagot ang siyang mga nagplano at sinadyang pahirapan ang mga student athlete,” he said.
Remulla emphasized that following a thorough review, the DOJ has the authority to remove certain individuals from the complaints—such as the utility personnel and student managers—and utilize them as state witnesses rather than defendants. He pointed out that under the Anti-Hazing Act, an individual’s mere presence during the act constitutes prima facie evidence of participation as a principal.
Furthermore, the DILG chief stressed that school administrators are bound by the principle of in loco parentis (acting in place of parents) to protect the well-being of their students. He noted that investigators must look into whether university authorities failed to stop the event that claimed two lives and traumatized other participants.
Remulla made it clear that no other student-athletes who took part in the training camp are being recommended for prosecution, classifying them entirely as victims.
“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,” he stressed.
He added that while the legal proceedings aim for accountability, the tragedy has inflicted deep emotional and psychological scars on the surviving athletes. The DILG stated that the fatal incident underscores the urgent need to fortify school safety measures against hazing and abuse.
The PNP-CIDG’s recommendation for preliminary investigation over violations of Republic Act 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, targets those who planned and executed the initiation. Aside from Baldwin, the list includes 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 staff Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.
The cases stem from the tragic deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team camp in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.