After conducting 620 hours of interviews with more than 60 individuals and compiling over 1,200 pages of testimony, the Department of the Interior and Local Government concluded that resigned Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin was the mastermind behind the school’s annual “team-building” activity in Aurora.
Moments after the DILG’s press conference on Friday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla joined Christian Esguerra’s Facts First podcast to shed more light on the investigation into the Dipaculao tragedy that claimed the lives of 18-year-old Rene Baterbonia and 21-year-old Divine Adili.
“Alam ninyo, open secret naman na supporter ako ng UP basketball,” he said. “Iba ang kultura ng Ateneo men’s basketball team.
“Si Tab, dahil sa success na ipinakita niya, ay may absolute authority over the team. Lahat ng ginagawa niya ay may approved budget, tapos ipinatutupad niya ang lahat ng gusto niyang gawin. Hindi na siya nagpapaalam, hindi na siya nagbibigay ng abiso. Basta kung ano ang gusto niyang mangyari, iyon ang nangyayari. Walang puwedeng kumontra sa kanya. Kahit sa strength and conditioning, siya pa rin ang nagdedesisyon kung ano ang mangyayari.”
Remulla clarified that Baldwin was directly employed by Ateneo, not by Smart Communications, describing him as an “employee-consultant” of the university.
According to Remulla, Smart Communications presented its sponsorship agreement with Ateneo, showing that its financial support went directly to the university, which in turn paid the salaries of the coaching staff, player allowances, and other team-related expenses.
“Ang kontrata niya ay sa Ateneo at hindi sa MVP Sports Foundation,” Remulla stressed.
Meanwhile, Remulla said resigned team manager Epok Quimpo was not an employee of Ateneo.
On June 8, Remulla confirmed that Quimpo was not present during the incident at Hermanos Leisure Farm, as he was in Guam attending a tournament in which his son was competing.
Despite being out of the country, Quimpo was the first person Baldwin and his coaching staff contacted after the tragedy unfolded on that Monday afternoon.
“Ang unang tinawagan niya ay ang sponsors, si Epok Quimpo. Nasa Guam noon si Epok. Pagkatapos, tinawagan ni Epok sina Father (Bobby) Yap at Emmanuel Fernandez para ipaalam ang nangyari. Si Epok ang unang naabisuhan,” shared Remulla.
“Ang nakapagtataka ay bakit hindi muna ang mga magulang ang sinabihan. Nalaman ng magulang ni Rene sa pamamagitan ng social media dahil kumalat na ang balita. Hindi nila unang tinawagan ang pamilya bago nalaman ng lahat. Kaya mas nakakagulat ang naging paghawak nila sa sitwasyon.”
Based on the DILG’s timeline, the players were swept apart by a strong rip current at around 2:36 PM. Fourteen minutes later, the coaching staff conducted a headcount and discovered that Baterbonia and Adili were missing.
Baterbonia was found at around 3:40 PM, while Adili was located approximately 10 minutes later.
“Wala silang inihanda. Kahit isang miyembro lang sana ng coaching staff na marunong ng CPR, wala. Wala ring life vest, bangka, o sapat na rescue equipment,” lamented Remulla.
“Isa lang ang nagbabantay na naka-snorkel at flippers. Pero kahit siya, si Coach (CJ) Elumba, ay nahirapan din dahil sa lakas ng dagat. Pagbalik niya, magulo na ang sitwasyon at wala na siyang nagawa.”
A total of 11 members of the Blue Eagles delegation — composed of seven coaches, two student managers, and two utility personnel — are set to face charges for allegedly violating the Anti-Hazing Act.
However, Remulla said that while Ateneo may not face criminal liability, it could still be held civilly liable.
“Ang final determinant niyan ay ang DOJ. Pero sa tingin namin, sa criminal aspect, wala. Sa civil liability, sigurado meron,” said Remulla.
“Sa tingin ko kailangan nilang magbigay ng danyos sa pamilya nina Rene Baterbonia at Divine dahil sa nangyaring ito.”
