The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against nine individuals over the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.
DOJ Undersecretary Ian Dato said prosecutors have begun a preliminary investigation into the complaint, with the first hearing held Monday.
The respondents are expected to submit their counter-affidavits at the next hearing scheduled for Sept. 15.
“(O)n Monday, the first hearing, the first preliminary investigation hearing was conducted. And the second one is on Sept. 15, which is the submission of the counter-affidavit of the respondents. So it’s an ongoing preliminary investigation,” Dato said during a press briefing.
The respondents named in the complaint are foreign coach Thomas Anthony Baldwin, Grant Dearns, Dean Caesar B. Castaño, Sandro Nicholas Soriano Romero, Reynaldo C. Jacinto Jr., John Eric Quiambao Rueca, Ceasar Vincent Javellana Elumba, Emmanuel Toribio Fernandez and Vincent Raphael M. Mangulabnan.
Meanwhile, a separate complaint involving alleged violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act, remains under case build-up, Dato said.
Under a DOJ circular, prosecutors work with law enforcement agencies during case build-up to assess evidence and establish the basis for a case before it is brought to court, with the goal of ensuring a strong likelihood of conviction.
The Anti-Hazing Act complaint has therefore not yet proceeded to the same stage as the reckless imprudence complaint.
Dato said the preliminary investigation into the NBI complaint remains ongoing as prosecutors evaluate the allegations and the respondents’ defenses.
Photo courtesy of NBTC
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