CIDG Reissues Subpoenas as Ateneo Officials Skip Appearance in Drowning Probe

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) will issue another round of subpoenas to several members of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team management after only the university’s athletics director personally appeared before investigators on Monday, June 15, in connection with the fatal drowning of two student-athletes during a team-building activity in Aurora province.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla confirmed that Ateneo athletics director Em Fernandez was the lone management official who personally appeared before the CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame as authorities continued their investigation into the deaths of players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

According to Remulla, the Philippine National Police (PNP) had subpoenaed five members of the Ateneo men’s basketball program as part of an ongoing fact-finding inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the June 8 tragedy.

Among those subpoenaed were head coach Tab Baldwin, team manager Epok Quimpo, and team chaplain Fr. Nemy Que. However, instead of appearing personally, the three officials sent a team of lawyers to represent them before investigators.

Remulla did not identify the fifth individual covered by the subpoena.

Speaking to reporters at Camp Crame, the Interior chief said authorities would issue another subpoena to those who failed to appear and warned that continued noncompliance could result in legal consequences.

Remulla cited Republic Act No. 10973, which grants the PNP chief as well as CIDG officials the authority to issue subpoenas in the course of criminal investigations.

Under the law, failure to comply may lead investigators to seek indirect contempt charges before the courts.

“Failure to comply with subpoena and subpoena duces tecum shall authorize the filing of a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the Regional Trial Court,” RA No. 10973 states.

Authorities emphasized that the current investigation is aimed at establishing the facts surrounding the incident and determining accountability, if warranted.

“Last week, the events that unfolded mostly [were] a fault-finding exercise. Today is a fact-finding exercise,” Remulla said in an interview upon arriving in Camp Crame ahead of the expected appearance of Ateneo officials.

“We are not here to arrest. We are not here to charge but merely to gather the facts. We’re only getting what happened, who authorized it, how they traveled there and who had ordered it,” he added.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. was also present during the scheduled proceedings.

Media access around the CIDG headquarters was restricted, with personnel preventing reporters from approaching the facility while the inquiry was underway.

Journalists stationed outside Camp Crame observed a group of lawyers entering the CIDG office at around 9 a.m. and leaving less than an hour later. The legal representatives did not issue any statement or respond to questions from the media.

The investigation stems from the deaths of Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, who drowned during a team-building activity at a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Authorities previously reported that the two players were swept away by strong currents while participating in a shoreline training session on June 8.

The Commission on Higher Education earlier disclosed that at least 24 players and seven members of the coaching staff were present during the activity.

The Aurora Provincial Police Office also confirmed that Baldwin was among those present at the resort when the incident occurred.

Initial findings from local authorities indicated that the players entered the water as part of a team activity before encountering a deeper section of the shoreline where currents became stronger.

The deaths prompted multiple investigations by various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, which earlier directed the National Bureau of Investigation to form a task force to conduct a separate probe into the incident.

The tragedy has generated widespread public attention and raised questions about safety protocols, supervision, and decision-making during the team-building activity.

Four days after the incident, Baldwin issued a public apology through an eight-minute video posted on Ateneo’s official social media platforms.

As investigations continue, authorities said their priority remains establishing a complete account of what transpired before, during, and after the activity that led to the deaths of the two athletes.

The CIDG is expected to continue gathering testimonies and documentary evidence as part of its ongoing inquiry.