Ateneo Blue Eagles' head coach Tab Baldwin, team manager Epok Quimpo resign over team-building tragedy

Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher "Epok" Quimpo have resigned a week after the drowning incident that claimed the lives of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

On Monday afternoon, June 15, Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto Yap SJ choked on tears as he and other Ateneo officials addressed the tragedy for the first time in a press conference.

"We face you today with heavy hearts, speaking from a landscape of deep and profound pain and sorrow," Yap began, his voice breaking. 

"One week ago, on June 8, 2026, our community was shattered by a tragedy that claimed the lives of our student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili," he continued. 

"No word in any language is capable of describing this loss. When a young man dies, we mourn both the loss of life and the shattering of dreams. We mourn the potential that won't come true, the empty chairs at family dinner tables, and the futures that were supposed to unfold on our playing courts and far beyond them," he added. 

Following his opening statements expressing his deep sorrow, Yap eventually announced the university has accepted the resignation of Baldwin, effective immediately. 

"We thank him for the years of service to the Blue Eagles. But as we enter a period of deep, institutional review, change in leadership is necessary to ensure the full integrity of our sports programs and safety protocols," said Yap. 

Quimpo's resignation was rendered effective immediately, as well.

"Team Manager Epok Quimpo has also submitted his resignation and we have also accepted it," Yap added.

Baldwin and three other ADMU officials did not appear at the PNP-CIDG headquarters in Camp Crame for a fact-finding session despite a subpoena scheduled earlier in the day.

In an interview with the press, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said five members of the Ateneo management were summoned.

"The only one who appeared is Mr. Em Fernandez, head of the Athletics Department. Mr. Baldwin did not appear. Mr. Quimpo did not appear. Fr. Nemy did not appear," Remulla said, apparently referring to Ateneo men's basketball team manager Christopher "Epok" Quimpo and Fr. Nemesio "Nemy" Que SJ, the team's chaplain.

Per Remulla, CIDG will be issuing a second subpoena on Friday. If the invidivuals remain absent, they will be under contempt of court. 

'We are truly, deeply sorry'

In the press conference, Yap addressed the families of Baterbonia and Adili.

"We see you. We hear you," the Jesuit assured them.

Yap acknowledged the families' "unbearable pain," saying, "We know the grief you carry right now is compounded by an anger that is entirely natural, justified, and deeply human."

"On behalf of Ateneo de Manila University, I am here to say simply and directly, we are truly, deeply sorry. We apologize unreservedly to the families and to our entire community for the agonizing pain of this tragedy," Yap said. 

"Two young men entrusted to our care did not return home. And that fact breaks our hearts," he added. "No explanation, context, or words can undo that loss. We face this moment with absolute humility and we ask for your prayers and your forgiveness."

According to Yap, after the incident, ADMU "chose direct, involved action for the families and the members of the team, and we continue to do so."

He mentioned the sparse public updates the university released after the tragedy, which the public generally interpreted as cold. Yap claimed it was "not because we did not care for the bereaved families. We believed, and continue to believe, that public relations and institutional noise should not intrude upon a family's grief."

"We are truly sorry for not being quick at informing the public of the developments, which has led to perceptions of inaction," Yap said.

Instead of being more vocal, he said the university chose to focus "on being present for the grieving families in their darkest hour."

While the university wanted the "truth to come out," Yap explained that the persons who could best narrate the events surrounding Baterbonia and Adili's deaths "are also now subject of investigations by the authorities."

Respecting the individuals' constitutional rights, Yap said the university could not force them to speak up, nor could the school speak on their behalf.

Likewise, Yap said the university has its own rights.

"If Ateneo exercises those rights, it is not to delay or mislead, but simply because that is how it is under our legal system," Yap said.

"And if it is eventually found that the university had its shortcomings, please rest assured that the university will address them and make them right," he added.

Assistance for the Baterbonia and Adili families

From day one, Yap said, "our commitment on the ground was immediate and full" for the grieving families.

He explained the university offered to shoulder all travel costs of Baterbonia's family from Agusan del Sur, however, according to Yap, the family chose instead to accept the same offer from the Agusan del Sur governor. Still, ADMU's "hand remained extended."

Yap expressed gratitude to Ateneo de Davao University, as well as its president Fr. Karel San Juan, who had been supporting Baterbonia's family since his death. The Davao university has shouldered all funeral expenses, and paid for the return of the Baterbonia family to Agusan del Sur after Baterbonia's three-day wake at the ADDU campus.

For Adili, ADMU has offered to fly his family from Nigeria to Manila and back, and also cover all costs of transportation and the expatriation of Adili's body back to his home country.

The help will not end there, said Yap.

"While no amount of material support can ever compensate for the loss of a son, Ateneo has offered full assistance and support to the Adili and Baterbonia families to cover all financial, emotional, and long-term burdens arising from this tragedy," he said.

"This is not a legal settlement. It is our moral obligation," he emphasized.

"We share these details to assure everyone that we have been working tirelessly to fulfill our duties of care quietly and respectfully where it matters most," Yap said.

"Ateneo de Manila is not evading accountability," he assured, adding the board of trustees has formed an independent body composed of external legal and technical experts tasked to conduct a comprehensive fact-finding inquiry. They will be operating outside Ateneo's administrative structure, per Yap. 

The same body will put up a forensic audit, said Yap, of "serious allegations" claiming Ateneo had prior knowledge of safety risks and used institutional intimidation in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Turning emotional once again, Yap addressed the men's basketball players, coaches, and supporting staff.

"We know that you are grieving and in pain, compounded by the relentless misinformation, harsh discourse, and even dangerous threats directed at you. We will continue to support you through this difficult time," Yap said. 

Team-building tragedy

ADMU released a statement informing the public that Baterbonia and Adili passed away on June 8 after drowning in Dipaculao, Aurora during a team-building activity.

The university has since said it is conducting its own comprehensive fact-finding inquiry into the tragedy and is "providing support to the families of Rene and Divine, as well as to their teammates and members of the Ateneo community affected by this tragedy." 

Various agencies and organizations have launched parallel investigations into the incident, including the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Aurora local government. Initial findings from the Aurora police have shown no evidence of foul play. 

Following the university's announcement of Baterbonia and Adili's deaths, ADMU President Fr. Roberto Yap SJ gave several official statements. He said that as the university grieved for its student-athletes, it also convened a fact-finding panel to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the incident. To allow for the "total integrity" of the probe, Yap said Ateneo men's basketball head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Christopher "Epok" Quimpo were placed on leave. 

Amid calls for Baldwin to personally pay his respects to the Baterbonia and Adili families, Yap wrote that the coach's silence was not self-imposed. Rather, it was a university decision to "allow official processes to proceed and the facts to be established before any public discussion of the matter," Yap said.

Baldwin made his first public appearance following the tragedy at a candlelight vigil for Baterbonia and Adili on June 11 at the ADMU campus. 

On June 12, through a video statement, Baldwin offered an apology to the Baterbonia and Adili families, both of whom said an apology was not enough.