Sports panel supports CIDG move in Ateneo drowning incident

MANILA, Philippines – The Sports Stakeholders’ Panel led by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Wednesday, July 1, said it supports the process undertaken by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP CIDG) over the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili and highlighted the need for coaching reforms in the country. 

The CIDG has recommended to the Department of Justice the filing of charges for violation of Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 against resigned Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others in connection with the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili during the Blue Eagles’ team building in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.

“As these investigations endeavor to determine the presence of hazing or acts of negligence in the tragedy, we recognize that these have given rise to uncertainties among sports professionals, particularly those in coaching and team management. Many sports demand discipline, rigorous physical conditioning, and mental fortitude,” the panel said in a statement. 

“Coaches and team managers therefore bear the dual responsibility of pushing athletes to excel while exercising sound judgment and safeguarding them from harm, abuse, exploitation, and competing interests that compromise athlete-centered training in pursuit of profit or power.” 

The CIDG investigation found out that the seawater activity that claimed two lives still pushed through despite the fact that some of the players were non-swimmers, including Adili. 

Also, the CIDG interviewed former Ateneo players who recounted near-death experiences from a similar seawater activity several years ago, among them Aaron Black and Gboy Babilonia. 

Baldwin, however, claimed that “there was no incident that even created the idea of drowning.” 

In light of these developments, the panel reaffirmed its support for House Bill No. 2631 or the Sports Coaching Act, which seeks to establish a national and multi-sport accreditation system for coaching in the Philippines. 

“We reiterate our strong commitment to professionalizing coaching and team management through higher standards, continuous education, mandatory certifications (including basic life support training), clearer operational guidelines, and robust safeguarding measures across all sports environments,” the panel said. 

Moreover, the panel urged all sports stakeholders to adhere to the reforms being implemented by the PSC, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and national sports associations that promote athlete welfare. 

“The power entrusted to us, the accountability we accept, and the standards we choose to uphold will define the culture of sport that shapes our youth and, ultimately, the kind of nation we become,” the panel said. – Rappler.com