Ateneo's Sanggunian calls for transparency, accountability after tragic deaths of Baterbonia, Adili

The student government body of Ateneo de Manila University has called for transparency and an exhaustive investigation into the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In a statement, the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola said it mourns alongside the community for the tragic deaths of Baterbonia and Adili, whose lives were lost in a drowning incident that occurred on Monday afternoon during a team-building event in Aurora.

READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident

"We mourn alongside the community over the loss of our fellow Blue Eagles, student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who passed away on June 8th in a drowning incident during an offseason activity," Sanggunian said in a statement.

"The Sanggunian, together with the whole student body, expresses its deepest condolences to their families, teammates, and friends. We extend our prayers for them and their loved ones amid this sorrowful time. May we also be able to strengthen our communities of care, especially after the incident."

Sanggunian said it urges the University to extend comprehensive support to the families of Baterbonia and Adili and uphold transparency throughout the process, as it called for a thorough investigation built on integrity, accountability, and the pursuit of answers.

"At this time, we call on the University to provide adequate support and transparency to the bereaved families and ensure that the circumstances surrounding this tragedy are met with integrity and accountability through an exhaustive investigation," Sanggunian said.

"We hope that this tragedy compels us to deeper reflection on the realities faced by our student-athletes and the support systems available to them. We urge our community to extend their support for our student-athletes, ensuring that they are met with compassion, understanding, and care during times of vulnerability."

In an interview with the media upon her arrival in Manila, Rovelyn Baterbonia, Rene's mother, cried for justice for her 19-year-old son and called for proper investigation into the incident.

In PNP Aurora's findings, foul play has been ruled out for now with Colonel Percival Pineda stating what happened was purely accidental.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News