(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University expressed profound grief over the deaths of students Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, while pledging full accountability as head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo were placed on leave pending investigation.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the university underscored its commitment to transparency and due process, stressing that the move aims to protect the integrity of the inquiry.
“To preserve the total integrity, independence, and fairness of this investigation — and to ensure all participants can cooperate freely without any perceived pressure — Head Coach Thomas Anthony ‘Tab’ Baldwin and Team Manager Christopher ‘Epok’ Quimpo have gone on leave for the duration of the inquiry,” the statement read.
The university added that it is working closely with authorities, assuring full cooperation with all ongoing investigations.
“The University is cooperating fully, transparently, and without reservation with all investigations being undertaken by national authorities and competent regulatory bodies,” it said.
Present In an ongoing investigation, Col. Percival Pineda, Aurora police chief, told reporters in a phone interview in Filipino that Baldwin and "the group was there by the sea.”
Pineda also confirmed that Baldwin was present during the rescue efforts.
“During the rescue, he was there… They were all there. When they caught the resort’s attention, the life guard came. They were all there,” Pineda said.
However, it has yet to be established if Baldwin was leading the supposed training activity.
“No one mentioned that based on the witnesses we talked to because their event was private,” Pineda said.
Investigators, however, still could not get a statement from Baldwin.
“Our investigator was trying. But, because of a state of shock, he couldn’t be spoken to.”
