Key facts
- Two members of the Ateneo de Manila University men's basketball team, Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, died in a drowning incident.
- The incident occurred during a team-building exercise on Monday.
- The National Bureau of Investigation has created a task force to investigate the deaths, examining safety protocols and foul play.
- Ateneo de Manila University is conducting its own investigation, with coach Tab Baldwin and the team manager on leave.
- Lawmakers plan to launch a congressional inquiry into the matter.
Philippine law enforcement has initiated an investigation into the deaths of two student athletes from Ateneo de Manila University's prominent men's basketball team. The athletes, Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, died in a drowning incident on Monday during a team-building exercise in the northeastern coastal province of Aurora.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), acting on orders from the justice ministry, has established a task force to explore all potential angles, including adherence to safety protocols and the possibility of foul play, despite initial police findings suggesting an accident.
The NBI stated that an event can be considered a product of negligence even if it was not intentionally caused. Baterbonia's mother expressed her distress and questioned the circumstances surrounding her son's death in a television interview.
Ateneo de Manila University confirmed it is conducting its own internal investigation. Coach Tab Baldwin, who has led the team to multiple championships and has an extensive international coaching career, and the team manager have taken leave during this period. Baldwin previously coached New Zealand's national team to a fourth-place finish at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.
Lawmakers have also indicated their intention to launch a congressional inquiry into the incident. Separately, the Labour Department announced it would subpoena Baldwin to verify his employment permit status.