MANILA, Philippines — Major General Robert Alexander Morico II, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director on Wednesday dared embattled former Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Head Coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin to “man up” and face fact-finding probes into the deaths of his players.
“Well I guess man up, be man enough to face the investigation,” Morico said of his message to Baldwin who has been snubbing summons for investigations into the fatal drowning of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora which he headed.
“In the interest of justice and equity para doon sa (for the) two players which you call as your brother because if you are talking about ‘yung (the) battlecry of BEBOB, [Blue Eagles] Band of Brothers, if you are brother hindi ka tatalikod (you will not turn back), so help the family attain justice,” Morico said.
Baldwin, seen by many as the primary responsible for the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili, has been repeatedly issued summons by the CIDG as well as the National Bureau of Investigations (NBI) but has yet to appear in any citing.
According to his lawyer, Baldwin was ‘“not in a good condition to appear.”
ADMU admitted to have instructed Baldwin to refrain from speaking publicly so as to allow official investigations and fact-finding processes as a university decision to prioritize healing, care and due process over public commentary.
Baldwin is summoned yet again to appear before the CIDG and the NBI on Friday (June 19).
According to Morico, authorities have now summoned 48 personalities to appear before the CIDG probe including Baldwin. Of this number, 22 are players and the rest are coaching staff.
Baldwin was particularly requested to bring with him the full CCTV and drone camera footage which remains in his possession, Morico said.
“With the subpoena to Mr. Thomas Baldwin we are asking him to bring with him the aerial footages of the drone during the conduct of training because he is the one with the cctv footages from the start when they have formation doon sa resort until the time na nangyari yung incident,” he said.
Morico vowed to exhaust all available powers of the CIDG including the filing of contempt and obstruction of justice cases against the coaches including Baldwin should they still fail to appear before the ongoing fact-finding probe.
