UAAP urges gov’t agencies to speed up investigation on Ateneo tragedy

FILE–Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The much-delayed statement coming from the UAAP finally came out on Sunday, with the league reiterating that it is ready to mete out sanctions on Ateneo and all individuals concerned in the tragedy that claimed the lives of two Blue Eagles basketball players in Aurora one week ago as it urged the government agencies to speed things up.

Pending findings on the investigations of the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Commission on Higher Education, and the concerned member school, coach Tab Baldwin, his staff and even the university itself could be held liable.

“We urge all concerned agencies to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation in order to put all speculations to rest,” the statement read. “The UAAP is closely following all developments surrounding this tragic incident and carefully reviewing the findings of the ongoing investigations as they come.

“When completed, all relevant information will be referred to the seven other member schools for a full and fair review.”

Ateneo had already placed Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo on leave before officially withdrawing from the FilOil pre-season tournament on Sunday.

The league doesn’t have a history of being lenient on its member schools, as it had already slapped season-long suspensions on La Salle and Adamson and the University of Santo Tomas coach for different violations.

Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned in a training exercise in Dipaculao last Monday and there were also reports of two more players, whom the school hasn’t named officially, who narrowly escaped death and needed to be revived.

“This difficult moment has reminded us that the care and protection of our student-athletes are paramount,” the statement concluded. “Together, we remain committed to fostering a sporting environment grounded in safety, respect, accountability and genuine concern for the well-being of every member of the UAAP community.”

Santo Tomas, then under Aldin Ayo, violated that mantra on safety when it held training camp in Sorsogon at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, drawing a one-year ban and eventually being let go by the school after “endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes” in that camp just when the country was in lock down.

In 2006, La Salle, then under Franz Pumarez, was suspended for a year for forwarding academic eligibility papers of Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian which later on proved to be spurious.

More than a decade before, Adamson was also suspended for a full year for playing Marlou Aquino for several years even with the 6-foot-9 beanpole failing to complete his academic eligibility requirements. INQ