CHICAGO — A good gurgle, and time’s healing balsam, usually rinses bad taste in the mouth.
But some 30 hours after resigned Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin was levied with a perpetual ban from the UAAP, the stench lingers.
READ UAAP bans Baldwin, clears Ateneo Blue Eagles to play in Season 89
The Board of Trustees handed down a decision that betrayed one of the basic tenets of a healthy democracy.
Presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
Just to be clear, our hearts are forever broken over the deaths of Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. They will never be forgotten.
DUE PROCESS.
And if a court of law finds liability and metes out penalties as a consequence to that fateful training excursion in Dipaculao, Aurora, we will support it.
Due process, however, must take place.
So, why the hurry to condemn an already resigned Baldwin?
Why not suspend him now and upgrade it later depending on what the Department of Justice opines following its review?
For God’s sake, even though coach Tab has gone through a series of investigations and multiple social media crucifixions, does the UAAP Board know that Baldwin hasn’t been officially charged yet?
ARROGANCE.
If the board had only looked before it leapt, these would not have happened.
Less haste and more due diligence.
But instead of championing the allegiance to a constitutionally guaranteed right of presumed innocence, the board rushed to poor judgement.
Tacking the hook of “not subject to appeal” made matters worse.
The UAAP board did not show infinite wisdom here.
It only leaked with definite arrogance.
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