Philippine Police File Anti-Hazing Complaint Against Tab Baldwin and 10 Others

The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group filed a complaint on June 26, 2026, charging resigned Ateneo men’s basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and ten other individuals with violating Republic Act No. 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

The complaint centers on the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.

The ten other named individuals are assistant coaches Jon Jacinto, Dean Castaño, and Sandro Soriano; strength and conditioning coaches Grant Dearns and CJ Elumba; physical therapist Jerick Rueca; student managers Paolo Manuel Adevoso and Andrew Lorenzo Salud; and utility personnel Aris Pronce and Joel Rapa.

The CIDG alleged that the seawater component of the activity included elements of hazing, such as physical or psychological suffering, a prerequisite for membership, forced calisthenics, and exposure to weather. Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said investigators conducted 320 hours of interviews with around 60 respondents.

Former Ateneo players Aaron Black and Gboy Babilonia told investigators they nearly drowned during earlier team-building activities and were rescued by coaches. Baldwin told investigators there had been no prior incident that suggested any risk of drowning.

CIDG Director Major General Robert Morico stated that the players were not wearing weights during the seawater activity and were not subjected to physical harm.

Remulla added that Ateneo de Manila University administrators, including president Fr. Roberto Yap and athletics director Em Fernandez, were unaware of the seawater activity beforehand. Team sponsors MVP Foundation and Smart Communications also had no involvement, he said.