Ateneo students, alumni sign open letter urging pursuit of accountability, justice following deaths of Baterbonia, Adili

Hundreds of students and alumni of Ateneo de Manila University, along with several campus organizations, signed an open letter calling on the university to uphold accountability following the deaths of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In a post shared by the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila, the letter said it stood in “solidarity with the grief of the loved ones that Rene and Divine left behind.”

The letter acknowledged that Ateneo “has never been perfect.”

“Subalit ang Ateneo po na kilala namin ay nagsisikap na maging mas mabuti, humihingi ng pasensya kapag nagkakamali, at nagpapakumbaba nang may pananagutan.”

It also criticized the university’s public statements regarding the tragic incident, describing them as “devoid of humanity.”

“Bawat isa’y kulang ng puso, ng habag, at ng pakikipagkapwa-tao,” the letter said.

While mourning the loss of their fellow students, the signatories also called on Ateneo to be “accountable to what it claims to be.”

“We grew up believing that this was a place that leads the call for accountability, human rights, and justice. A place that teaches us to stand with the poor and vulnerable, to speak when it is difficult, and to act when it matters most.”

The letter further pointed to questions surrounding training practices, citing previous statements from former players regarding how they trained during their time with the Blue Eagles.

“This raises broader, brutal questions on how athletes are forged into champions — of what lengths the university is willing to push them, at the expense of their safety and well-being.”

The letter also called on Ateneo to “explore every avenue for the attainment of truth and clarity; create an environment that is safe and genuinely free from any pressure or coercion; work with students and other key stakeholders to establish policies on safety of student-athletes; and respond to crucial questions, ensuring transparency to the utmost possibility.”

“Mahal namin ang Ateneo. At dahil mahal namin ito, hindi po kami mananahimik.”

The signatories likewise apologized to the Baterbonia and Adili families on behalf of the Ateneo comunity.

“Sa pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay nina Rene at Divine, kasama po ninyo kami sa paghiling na manaig ang katotohanan, katarungan, at panangutan. At bilang parte po ng Ateneo, humihingi po kami ng tawad.”

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA News