Ateneo president emotional at Senate's drowning probe

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University President Roberto Yap turned emotional on Thursday as he faced a Senate inquiry into the fatal drowning of its two student-athletes, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Baterbonia and Adili drowned at a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora province  during a team-building activity on June 8.

Upon learning  of  the deaths of their students, Yap said they immediately informed their families and arranged for the transportation of the victims’ remains from Dipaculao to Manila.

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READ: Ateneo president on players’ death: ‘We’ve been there since Day 1’

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“Although we did not immediately publicize every action we undertook, our work in supporting the families began on June 8 and has continued to this day without interruption,” he said in his opening statement during the hearing of the Senate committee on basic education.

“Many of these efforts were undertaken quietly out of respect for the families and their privacy,” he pointed out.

Yap said the university did not only facilitate Baterbonia and family’s return to their province in Agusan as well as  Divine’s return to Nigeria, but he also personally visited the wakes of the two victims.

“Throughout this period, we provided all possible assistance to both families,”  he pointed out.

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Yap  though recognized, “None of these efforts can ever fill the void left by Rene and Divine, or change what has happened, or ease the immeasurable loss their families continue to bear.”

He became emotional when he started talking about the “bullying” and “trial by publicity” that surviving student-athletes and other members of the university community had to endure while grieving.

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“We unequivocally condemn these acts because they only deepen the pain of those already grieving by spreading disinformation and causing further harm,” he said.

At the same time, Yap said they also understand  their community’s frustrations and their  demand for swift action.

“We share that sense of urgency, but we also owe it to everyone affected by this tragedy to make decisions based on verified facts, and to ensure that every action we take and every action we implement is thoughtful, thorough, and lasting,” he said.

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Yap concluded his statement with a promise to pursue the truth and make the institution better, even beyond the Senate probe. /mr