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PNP-CIDG Issues Subpoenas To 20 In Ateneo Tragedy Probe
Photo credit: PNP-CIDG
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) has issued subpoenas to about 20 individuals, including coaches and players who attended the Ateneo de Manila University team-building activity in Aurora where student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili lost their lives.
CIDG officials confirmed that testimonies are being gathered as part of an expanding investigation into the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora. Authorities have also identified several persons of interest, including school officials, as investigators work to determine the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The subpoenas are intended to help establish a clearer timeline of events and determine whether safety protocols were properly observed during the activity. Investigators emphasized that being named a person of interest does not automatically imply criminal liability but simply means an individual may possess information relevant to the case.
The probe comes amid growing public scrutiny over the nature of the team-building exercise, with authorities examining all possible angles, including whether any laws may have been violated. Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed that the CIDG had been tasked to conduct a thorough investigation and pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads.
The deaths of Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, have shocked the Philippine sports community and prompted separate inquiries by several government agencies. The Department of Justice has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel investigation, while the Commission on Higher Education has pledged to look into possible lapses in the conduct of school-related activities.
Initial findings from local police indicated that the two athletes were swept into deeper waters by strong currents during the activity. Authorities, however, stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that no final conclusions have been reached.
Meanwhile, Ateneo has continued to coordinate with the families of the victims and provide support to teammates and members of the university community affected by the tragedy.
Officials have urged the public to refrain from speculation and allow investigators to complete their work as authorities seek answers in one of the most closely watched investigations involving collegiate athletics in recent years.
CIDG officials confirmed that testimonies are being gathered as part of an expanding investigation into the June 8 incident in Dipaculao, Aurora. Authorities have also identified several persons of interest, including school officials, as investigators work to determine the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two members of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
The subpoenas are intended to help establish a clearer timeline of events and determine whether safety protocols were properly observed during the activity. Investigators emphasized that being named a person of interest does not automatically imply criminal liability but simply means an individual may possess information relevant to the case.
The probe comes amid growing public scrutiny over the nature of the team-building exercise, with authorities examining all possible angles, including whether any laws may have been violated. Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed that the CIDG had been tasked to conduct a thorough investigation and pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads.
The deaths of Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21, have shocked the Philippine sports community and prompted separate inquiries by several government agencies. The Department of Justice has directed the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel investigation, while the Commission on Higher Education has pledged to look into possible lapses in the conduct of school-related activities.
Initial findings from local police indicated that the two athletes were swept into deeper waters by strong currents during the activity. Authorities, however, stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that no final conclusions have been reached.
Meanwhile, Ateneo has continued to coordinate with the families of the victims and provide support to teammates and members of the university community affected by the tragedy.
Officials have urged the public to refrain from speculation and allow investigators to complete their work as authorities seek answers in one of the most closely watched investigations involving collegiate athletics in recent years.
Jun 11, 2026
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