Ateneo de Manila University announced Thursday that Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher “Epok” Quimpo have been placed on leave as the school begins its internal investigation into the deaths of student‑athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
In a statement, Ateneo said the move aims to “preserve the total integrity, independence, and fairness” of the inquiry and to ensure that all individuals involved “can cooperate freely without any actual or perceived pressure.”
The decision marks the university’s first major action following the June 8 drowning incident in Aurora that claimed the lives of the two players.
Baldwin, a four‑time UAAP champion, has not issued any public statement since the tragedy, even as criticism and calls for accountability continue to mount. He was also absent during the team’s visit to Baterbonia’s wake on June 10.
On Thursday, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio urged Baldwin to “come forward,” while the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) summoned him to present proof of his alien employment permit.
Ateneo said it recognizes the gravity of the incident and is conducting its investigation “with the highest standards of fairness, independence, and objectivity,” under the direction of its Board of Trustees. The university added that it is cooperating “fully, transparently, and without reservation” with ongoing probes by government agencies.
In its latest update, the school said initial accounts indicate that the team “was engaged in a conditioning exercise in knee‑deep water near the shoreline when they were suddenly engulfed by massive waves and a powerful rip current.” While most players managed to return to safety, Baterbonia and Adili were swept away.
The university also clarified that “no weights of any kind were used” during the drill, countering allegations circulating online. Rescuers who recovered the bodies likewise reported finding no weights or visible injuries on the victims.
Multiple agencies—including the National Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and the PNP‑Criminal Investigation and Detection Group—are now conducting parallel investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
