Ateneo students, teachers stage walkout for justice

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MANILA, Philippines — Students, teachers and staff of Ateneo de Manila University held a solidarity walkout yesterday as they called for transparency, accountability and justice in the deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Led by the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, the protesters asked the university to practice its own Ignatian values.

“As we remember, mourn and honor our dear friends and classmates, Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili, we call for transparency, meaningful accountability, stronger safeguards for our student-athletes and genuine community participation in shaping the path forward,” the joint statement read.

The members of the Ateneo community said university management should break the silence, listen to its community, protect and uplift its very own student-athletes, hold all involved officials accountable, ensure an exhaustive investigation and reevaluate and renew institutional leadership. 

The joint statement noted that in a town hall with the administration on June 16, the Ateneo community was urgently seeking clarity, especially on the next steps that the university would be taking. The Ateneo community likewise asked the university to protect and uplift student-athletes, saying there is a clear misalignment.

“Routine activities requiring parental notification forms and declaration and undertaking documents, while programmed team-building activities are conducted without clear approval from the Office of College Athletics. This must be resolved by ensuring that the same safeguards are consistently and proactively applied to all activities involving student-athletes,” the joint statement said.

Ateneo has formed a response and reform committee, which will focus on improvements to its institutional systems and practices.

In a memorandum issued on June 19, Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap said the response and reform committee will be composed of faculty and administrators. The committee will report directly to the Board Crisis Oversight Committee and will submit recommendations by July 19.

Inconsistencies

Players and coaches of the Ateneo Blue Eagles have given inconsistent accounts of the drowning incident that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday, attributing the differences to the locations of the coaches and players on the beach.

After skipping the probe on Monday, Baldwin and other members of his coaching staff such as Dean Castaños and Em Fernandez arrived at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group yesterday morning. They did not issue a statement.

Baldwin submitted drone footage, about two minutes long, which he took after Baterbonia and Adili drowned.

Asked if investigators have established lapses on Baldwin’s part, Remulla said: “Not yet, wait until the full report is out.”