Legal counsel ni Tab Baldwin, ipinaliwanag kung bakit wala sa NBI probe ang kanyang kliyente

• Newly-resigned Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin did not attend the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) hearing on Tuesday
• His lawyer, Atty. Karl Justeen David, explained to reporters that the veteran basketball coach was not in a good condition to make an appearance
• Despite skipping the probe for two consecutive days, Baldwin's legal team assured the public that he intends to cooperate with all legal steps
• The legal team chose to acknowledge but push aside separate online allegations from Baldwin's estranged wife to focus on the ongoing drowning case

The ongoing official inquiry into the tragic drowning of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili continued yesterday, but a key figure was missing from the room. Newly-resigned Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin was absent during the scheduled National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) probe.

As captured in the video from News , Baldwin's legal counsel, Atty. Karl Justeen David, faced a crowd of reporters to explain why the coach skipped the NBI's probe.

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"He was not in a good condition to appear, so the NBI gave us another setting. We will try to talk to him if mag-appear siya sa next setting," Atty. David explained to the media.

The tragic incident occurred last June 8 during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, leading to a deep sense of grief within the university and the sports community. Following the incident, Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo stepped down from their respective roles.

While Baldwin has missed consecutive hearings with the NBI, his lawyer clarified that the coach is not running away from the process.

"Coach Tab will fully cooperate with all the ongoing investigations and all the legal procedures. We will have to take that up with him pa, so we cannot say for certain when," Atty. David emphasized.

Aside from the primary drowning investigation, reporters also questioned the legal team regarding a viral wave of heavy personal accusations made online by Baldwin's estranged wife.

"We take those allegations seriously, pero we prefer to focus for now sa subject matter ng ongoing investigations," the lawyer firmly stated.

The NBI has granted a rescheduled date for Baldwin's appearance as authorities try to gather more details regarding the safety protocols and authorization behind the out-of-town training trip.

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As previously reported by KAMI, Ateneo Blue Eagles players Kieffer Alas and Sam Reyes have chosen to speak up about the painful training camp incident in Dipaculao, Aurora. The heartbreaking tragedy on June 8 led to the loss of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. The two players recalled how quickly a standard swim turned into a dangerous situation due to sudden, strong ocean waves that took overtook them. Journalist Pia Hontiveros noted that during a crisis of this size, it is vital for people to face the public, take responsibility, and explain what happened.

Meanwhile, Doug Kramer appealed to the public to help the families of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili after their passing. The former Ateneo Blue Eagles champion emphasized focusing on support rather than ongoing discussions about the incident. He shared authorized donation channels to ensure that assistance directly reaches the grieving families. The appeal received wide attention from the Ateneo community and supporters expressing solidarity and grief.

Source: KAMI.com.gh