Violations of Anti-Hazing law eyed in death of 2 college hoopers; CIDG summons coaches, players

Authorities are eyeing possible violation of the Anti-Hazing Act in the case of the two players of the Ateneo de Manila University who died in a training activity in a beach resort in Aurora on June 8. On Thursday, June 11, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said it already issued subpoenas to the coaching staff and players who were present during the off-campus training in Dipaculao, Aurora. So far, CIDG director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II said they already established the timeline of the activity and the subpoena to the coaching staff and players will give police investigators a clear picture of what happened before, during and after the drowning incident. “Right now we have several persons of interest… They are the school authorities that were together with the team. They were the ones who took the players to Aurora,” said Morico, adding that there were actually at least three. In a statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it expects all concerned individuals to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities. “Subpoenas have been issued to the coaches and players present during the activity as part of fact-finding efforts, including the examination of possible violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018,” the statement read. “Due process will be strictly observed, and accountability will be enforced wherever the facts lead,” it added. Aside from the subpoenas, Morico said they requested the Department of Justice to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order “to prevent certain persons of interest from leaving the country”. “One of them is a foreign national,” said Morico. Past incidents In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Morico said they may invite former players amid allegations of similar incidents in the past in Aurora. “There are also allegations coming from past athletes that they were afraid of going to Aurora, and there are past incidents where there were drowning incidents that happened,” said Morico. Those allegations, he said, will be validated at the course of the investigation through the invitation of former players of Ateneo basketball team. “We are not treating them as persons of interest. We are treating them as resource persons,” said Morico, referring to former players. “I think they are interested in helping,” he added. No speculations please PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr earlier urged the netizens to refrain from speculating and sharing hate posts in relation to the incident. “The unfortunate incident involving two college basketball players should not be a topic of online hate and debate. Let us show respect to the families, and trust the ongoing process of finding out what really happened,” said Nartatez. This was echoed by the DILG; “We urge the public to refrain from speculation and to allow the proper authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, out of respect for the grieving families and for the truth that must be established.”