Ateneo president says university's support for Baterbonia, Adili families to continue

Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) will continue to support the families of the late student-athletes Rene Barterbonia and Divine Adili, the school's president Fr. Roberto "Bobby" Yap said Friday as he appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"What I really like to say is, we have condoled, we have apologized, and we continue to support them. We have provided assistance and we will continue to support them," Yap said.

According to GMA reporter John Consulta, Yap was at the NBI Homicide Division to give his statement in relation to the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday, June 8.

Yap said Adili may be buried today, Friday. His remains arrived in Nigeria on Thursday.

"I spoke to the uncle who came, who was a friend of Divine… they were talking regularly and I condoled, I apologized to him," he said.

"And I made a promise also that we would help, we would support. We provided assistance to them and we will continue to provide assistance," he added.

The Ateneo president said he has also been in support of Baterbonia's family since Day 1.

Yap declined to give any more comments, saying he wanted to respect the privacy of the conversations.

"You cannot imagine—, I cannot imagine the grief of Mrs. Baterbonia, Mr. Baterbonia. I cannot imagine the grief of Mr. Adili and Mrs. Adili," he said.

"I really like that we respect the grieving," he added.

Yap previously issued a public apology to the grieving families during the baccalaureate mass for the Ateneo graduating Class of 2026.

Also on Friday, authorities announced that the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has recommended the filing of complaints against 11 individuals over the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili for alleged violations of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018. — VDV, GMA News