CHED issues show cause order vs. Ateneo

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Wednesday announced the issuance of a show cause order (SCO) against Ateneo de Manila University following its failure to submit an incident report and documents on the deaths of student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

CHED directed Ateneo to submit an explanation why it should not face appropriate sanctions for allegedly violating a memorandum order on off-campus activities and for its alleged failure to exercise reasonable supervision over its students in loco parentis.

The explanation must be submitted within 10 days from receipt of the order.

“CHED remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting student welfare and upholding standards across the higher education sector,” it said in a statement.

“Institutions entrusted with the care of students must comply with all laws, regulations, and safety requirements, especially in the conduct of off-campus activities,” it added.

CHED said it directed Ateneo on June 9 to submit an incident report, a certificate of compliance, and several documents.

“In the exercise of its regulatory authority, the Commission issued an SCO on June 16... CHED cannot allow matters involving the loss of student lives and questions of institutional accountability to remain unaddressed," it said.

"Higher education institutions are expected to cooperate fully with regulatory processes, particularly in incidents involving student safety and welfare,” it added.

Baterbonia and Adili lost their lives in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team head coach Tab Baldwin on Tuesday appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in connection with the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.

The former head coach also apologized to the families of the players, but Baterbonia’s mother said that an apology is not enough.

Baldwin and former team manager Epok Quimpo have since resigned. —VAL, GMA News