More lawmakers want probe into Ateneo hoopers’ death

Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. PHOTOS: Rene Baterbonia’s Instagram and INQUIRER.net File Photo

MANILA, Philippines — More members of the House of Representatives have called for an investigation into the deaths of two members of Ateneo de Manila University’s men’s basketball team.

In a statement on Tuesday, Manila Rep. Joel Chua suggested that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) take the lead in the probe, citing its expertise in conducting forensic examinations.

Ateneo announced on Monday that two of its players, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, died after drowning during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Baterbonia, 19, recently played in the Palarong Pambansa finals two weeks ago and committed to the Blue Eagles program, while Adili, a 21-year-old Nigerian foreign student, played in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

“The NBI has some of the most experienced forensic and fact-finding investigators in the country. They must establish a clear timeline of events and determine exactly what happened, who made the decisions, what activities were conducted, what safety measures were in place, and whether established protocols were followed,” Chua said.

“I am not accusing anyone at this stage. But every legitimate question must be asked, and every lead must be pursued. No angle should be prematurely dismissed,” he added.

READ: Ateneo’s Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili die in drowning incident

Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V, Jefferson Khonghun, and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong—members of the House Young Guns bloc—said that while they are urging authorities to act swiftly, they will also file a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the incident.

“This resolution will compel relevant agencies to examine safety protocols, risk assessment procedures, supervision standards, emergency preparedness, and all other factors that may have contributed to the tragedy,” the House Young Guns bloc said.

“Such an investigation is crucial not only to establish the facts but also to provide the legislative basis for crafting new laws or amending existing ones. Our objective is to institutionalize stricter safety standards for all school, sports, and team-building activities nationwide, so that no other family will have to endure this kind of preventable loss,” they added.

Chua also called on organizers to cooperate with investigators and ensure there is no cover-up.

“Parents entrust their children to coaches, schools, and training camps believing they will return home safer, stronger, and better prepared for competition. We owe it to every Filipino family to determine exactly what went wrong and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again,” he added.

Earlier, Pinoy Workers party-list Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi also said the incident should serve as a reminder that while there is a need to push student-athletes toward discipline and resilience, institutions must uphold the “highest standards of safety, care, and accountability.”

According to Legazpi, if such incidents can happen in prestigious educational institutions, then lawmakers should all the more examine whether safety measures in other schools and universities are sufficient.

READ: House resolution seeking probe into Ateneo cagers’ drowning filed 

Legazpi said he will also be filing a resolution seeking a congressional probe into the matter.

READ: House resolution seeking probe into Ateneo cagers’ drowning to be filed

READ: Ateneo players ‘were swimming when carried by strong current’ – police

Initial report from the Police Regional Office 3 stated that Baterbonia and Adili “were swimming when they were reportedly carried by a strong current into deeper waters.”

Police said an investigation is underway. /mcm