Criminal Charges Recommended Against Baldwin in Drowning Deaths of Baterbonia and Adili

Criminal Charges Recommended Against Baldwin in Drowning Deaths of Baterbonia and Adili

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | July 13, 2026

MANILA – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has formally recommended filing criminal charges against former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball head coach Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin and ten others. This recommendation follows the investigation into the tragic drowning deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert N. Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili during a team activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8, 2026.

In a transmittal dated July 8, the NBI Task Force Baterbonia and Adili submitted its findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The NBI’s Homicide Division conducted a comprehensive investigation, interviewing numerous individuals, including Ateneo President Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ, Coach Baldwin, over twenty current and former Ateneo men’s basketball players, coaching staff, the team’s physical therapist, utility personnel, and the owners and employees of Hermanos Leisure & Agri-Farm Resort.

The NBI specifically recommended filing reckless imprudence resulting in two counts of homicide against the following individuals:

• Thomas Anthony “Tab” Baldwin: Former Head Coach
• Ceasar Vincent “CJ” Elumba: Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Grant Dearns: Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Reynaldo Jacinto Jr.: Assistant Coach
• Dean Caesar Castaño: Assistant Coach
• Sandro Nicholas Soriano: Assistant Coach
• Hernan Ameer “Buboy” Domingo: Assistant Coach
• John Eric Rueca: Ateneo Physical Therapist

Additionally, the NBI recommended charges of simple negligence resulting in two counts of homicide against:

• Emmanuel Fernandez: Ateneo Athletic Director
• Francisco Zubia III: Owner, Hermanos Leisure & Agri-Farm Resort
• Frederick Zubia: Owner, Hermanos Leisure & Agri-Farm Resort
• Yedda Mary Molina Rubio: Co-manager, Hermanos Leisure & Agri-Farm Resort

The tragic incident occurred during a team-building activity, where Baterbonia and Adili reportedly drowned. The NBI’s recommendations underscore potential accountability from both the university’s athletic department and the resort management regarding safety protocols and oversight during the ill-fated event.

This development marks a critical step in the ongoing quest for justice and accountability for the untimely deaths of the two promising student-athletes. The Department of Justice will now review the NBI’s recommendations to determine the appropriate course of action.

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