PSC, House set probe on Ateneo student-athletes’ deaths

The Manila Times

PSC, House set probe on Ateneo student-athletes’ deaths

MANILA, Philippines — The deaths of two student-athletes of the Ateneo de Manila University has led to calls for an investigation into the tragedy. The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Tuesday said it has formed a panel that would look into the drowning of Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili allegedly during a training in Aurora by the school's collegiate basketball team. PSC chairman Patrick Gregorio shared the multi-stakeholder fact-finding body will assist the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Department of Justice (DOJ) to come up with a comprehensive account of last Monday’s incident that claimed the lives of Baterbonia, 19, and Adili, 21. “PSC is not the investigating task force/panel. We are here to help address this concern,” Gregorio said in a press conference. “We need to do this process so it doesn't happen again,” he added in Filipino. Gregorio tapped Erika Dy from the Samahang Basketbol ng PIlipinas (SBP), PSC Commission Fritz Gaston, Commission of Higher Education chairman Dr. Shirley Agrupis, University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Executive Director Rebo Saguisag; Fr. Aldrin Suan, Adamson University vice president for student affairs; National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairman Jeff Ortega, among others, to comprise the panel. “We will invite resource speakers so we can continue this process. What is very important is we need the formal report coming from the Philippine National Police,” Gregorio said. The consultation, he said, would be done in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the “Office of the Press Secretary.” The panel and stakeholders will meet on Wednesday afternoon at the PSC headquarters. Baterbonia and Adili drowned during a team-building activity at a resort in Dipaculao, Aurora. Their “tragic passing” is a “profound tragedy for Philippine sports and for all who knew and supported them,” the PSC said. Earlier on Tuesday, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega 5th, Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun, and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong—all from the Young Guns group in the House of Representatives—said they would file a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry. In a statement, the three also extended their condolences to the families and friends of Adili and Baterbonia, as well as to the Ateneo community. "As champions of sports development for the Filipino youth, we have both the privilege and the responsibility to promote athletic excellence while ensuring the safety and welfare of every student-athlete," the groups said. "Tragedies like this must compel us to act with urgency and purpose", they said. The group said it aimed "to institutionalize stricter safety standards for all school, sports, and team-building activities nationwide." Pinoy Workers Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi said that he would file a resolution seeking a House inquiry in aid of legislation. "These young athletes had promising futures ahead of them. Beyond their talents on the court, they were sons, students, teammates, and individuals whose lives were filled with potential. Their untimely passing is a heartbreaking loss not only to their families and school, but also to Philippine sports," he said in a statement as he extended his condolences to their families and friends as well as to the Ateneo community. "I will be filing a House Resolution urging the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the adequacy of existing policies, safety standards, and accountability mechanisms..., with the end in view of strengthening the protection and welfare of student-athletes", said Legazpi, a former commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission.

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