Aquino, Go call for Senate probe into Ateneo cagers' deaths

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Bam Aquino and Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday called for an investigation into the deaths of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In a privilege speech during Wednesday’s session, Aquino said the Senate committee on basic education, which he chairs, should conduct a hearing and investigate the June 8 incident in Aurora that claimed the lives of Baterbonia and Adili.

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

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“The tragedy that befell Rene and Divine calls for clarity and truth,” Aquino said in Filipino.

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“For the parents, families, friends, and community of Rene and Divine, the Senate may serve as a space where the truth about what happened on that day can come to light,” he added.

According to Aquino, the committee will examine the current policies of the Department of Education, as well as the Commission on Higher Education, along with rules, regulations, and standards governing sports and athletics.

Findings and recommendations from the hearing may then contribute to the proposed Safer Schools Act.

In a privilege speech, Go echoed Aquino’s sentiments and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families of Baterbonia and Adili.

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READ: CIDG: Ateneo drowning not an accident, took place 700 meters from resort

Go said he filed Senate Resolution No. 450 to urge an inquiry into the incident in order to develop policies, protocols, and guidelines for the safety of student athletes and ensure that such a tragedy will not happen again.

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“I also call on the appropriate government agencies and organizations to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to determine the true circumstances of what happened,” he said in Filipino.

Go also said he filed Senate Bill No. 2261, or the proposed Student-Athlete Safety and Welfare Act, to require the Philippine Sports Commission to craft a National Student-Athlete Safety Code.

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“Whatever the outcome of the investigation may be, we hope it will yield important lessons that can help prevent the repetition of such a tragedy. If laws or policies are needed to prevent this from happening again, we are ready to address it in the Senate,” he said in Filipino. /mcm