Sports stakeholders back CIDG probe into student-athletes' drowning

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The inter-agency sports stakeholders panel has expressed support for the ongoing investigation into the Aurora tragedy that claimed the lives of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia Jr. and Divine Adili, while calling for stronger athlete safeguarding measures and the professionalization of coaching in the country.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, July 1, the Sports Stakeholders’ Panel, formed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on June 10, expressed confidence in the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s (CIDG) efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, while crediting the agency for its “diligent and sustained pursuit of the truth.”

The panel also welcomed the transparency of the CIDG’s public updates and backed the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) separate evaluation of institutional oversight under CHED Memorandum Order No. 63, Series of 2017.

READ: Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili death: CIDG summons coaches, players

Besides the PSC and CHED, the sports stakeholders panel is also composed of the Department of Education, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), and the National Youth Commission (NYC).

As the panel and the CIDG continue to determine whether the incident in Aurora was related to hazing or simply negligence, they also acknowledged that it is high time to address concerns among sports administrators and coaches throughout the country.

READ: Ateneo players ‘fully cooperating’ with PNP CIDG probe — lawyer

The panel further explained that while many sports require discipline and grueling physical and mental training, safeguarding the welfare of athletes must always remain paramount. It stressed that coaches, in particular, play a crucial role in preventing exploitation, abuse, and harm.

Thus, the panel is pushing for the professionalization of coaching and team management by upholding higher standards through continuing education and mandatory certifications. The proposed reforms also include basic life support training, clearer operational guidelines, and stronger safeguarding measures across all sporting environments.

The panel’s push for athlete safeguarding goes beyond coaches and sports administrators. It also extends to the National Sports Associations, while renewing its support for the proposed Sports Coaching Act (House Bill No. 2631), which seeks to institutionalize higher coaching standards and reinforce athlete protection across Philippine sports.

The panel’s call to strengthen athlete safeguarding closely relates to the position paper published by Cebu Provincial Sports Commission (CPSC) and Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) Chairman Dr. Rhoel Dejano.

The paper advocates expanded protection beyond training, including mandatory written recruitment agreements for athletes in the province who are being recruited by universities, in a bid to prevent exploitation, broken promises, and the abandonment of student-athletes.

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