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The grieving parents of Divine Adili have spoken out about the loss of their son, saying they continue to search for the truth behind the circumstances that led to his death.

In an interview featured on 24 Oras Weekend, Divine's mother, Ifeoma Adili, recalled the devastating moment she learned about her son's passing on June 8.

"That moment was the worst moment of my life," she said. "I've never experienced what I experienced that day."

Despite their grief, Divine's parents said they remain proud of their son and the accomplishments he achieved during his life.

"I would like him to know that I love him so much," Ifeoma said. "He will forever remain in my memory. I'll still be proud of him."

"We are proud of him. He is forever in our minds," added his father, Elias Adili.

The couple said they are still seeking clarity about what happened and are calling for a full explanation of the events that led to their son's death.

"The justice that I want is the truth," Ifeoma said. "Explanation on how everything happened. There's no clarity at all."

She also raised concerns about the safety measures in place during the activity, claiming her son did not know how to swim and questioning whether participants had been asked about their swimming abilities beforehand.

According to the parents, adequate precautions should have been implemented, including the provision of life jackets and the presence of trained rescue personnel.

Elias described the incident as an act of negligence, saying the tragedy has deeply affected their family.

"The damage has been done, and it brought my family into a very big problem," he said.

For now, Ifeoma said their priority is bringing Divine's remains home.

"Let his body come first in good condition," she said. "That is our main priority."

In a separate Facebook post, Elias paid tribute to his son, describing him as a dedicated athlete who proudly represented Nigeria in international competition and gave his best as a member of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

"I want justice for my Son Chukwuemeka Divine Adili who along with others stood in for Nigeria in the all Nation Tournament [All Nations Tournament] in the Philippines in 2024. Nigeria won, he was ranked 6th best, he gave his all to Ateneo."

He continued, "Divine, your family is highly pained and devastated by your demise out of carelessness, you evaporated like a steam out of our sight, Divine we miss you, and our tears seem endless."

Divine passed away alongside fellow student-athlete Rene Baterbonia in a drowning incident that occurred during a team-building activity in Rizal. The tragedy has sparked calls for accountability and prompted an outpouring of support from the Ateneo community and the families of the two young athletes.

Video courtesy of 24 Oras Weekend

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