MALACAÑANG on Thursday joined calls for a thorough investigation into the deaths of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted an immediate investigation to determine the facts surrounding the drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, on June 8.
Castro also expressed the Palace’s condolences to the families of the two athletes and said an investigation should be able to establish the facts behind the incident amid talk and speculation on social media over the student-athletes’ deaths.
“So, an immediate investigation is really necessary here because the outcome of the said training did not end well,” the Palace official said.
“We should not preempt or prejudge the matter, which is why a thorough investigation is necessary,” she added.
Baterbonia, 19, a former standout from Ateneo de Davao University, had recently competed in the 2026 Palarong Pambansa and was expected to make his debut in UAAP Season 89. Adili, 21, a 6-foot-10 Nigerian center, played for the Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 88.
Ateneo faculty seeks clarity
More than 160 faculty members of the Ateneo de Manila University on Thursday signed an open letter seeking clarity over the deaths of the student-athletes.
The letter was addressed to Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap, appealing for “greater clarity and transparency from the university administration.” The faculty members wanted to know if the training activity was in accordance with university regulations, if parents and guardians were informed of the activity’s nature, and if safety measures were put in place to anticipate or mitigate risks.
“Are the leaves of absence of Coach [Tab] Baldwin and Team Manager [Epok] Quimpo tantamount to a preventive suspension as is the standard operating procedure in cases of this nature? While there may have been no ill-intent on their part, such a measure is important as a gesture of commitment to a fair and objective investigation,” the letter read.
“Clarity around facts is critical in truth-seeking and sense-making. It is also a demand of the bereaved families that we need to respond to... We appeal for sincere and humane expressions of apology, empathy and compassion from the university leaders and coaching staff. The nameless, faceless and sterile official social media posts have downplayed the gravity of the situation and the accountability of the university. We appeal for the university administration and coaching staff to come forward — in person — with humility and acknowledgment of wrongdoing and lapses in judgment, risk mitigation, communication, and most especially, care for our students,” they added.
Ongoing investigations
The Philippine Sports Commission has formed a multi-stakeholder panel to assist efforts to establish a comprehensive account of the incident and review safety measures for athletes undergoing training.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police are also investigating the incident.
The NBI created a special task force to conduct an independent probe even as earlier police findings indicated no foul play.
The task force will be led by the assistant director for the Investigation Service, with the Central Luzon regional director serving as deputy head.
Investigators from the Homicide Division, Aurora District Office, Technical Investigation Division, Digital Forensic Laboratory and Medico-Legal Division were also assigned to the team.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag directed the panel to submit an initial progress report within 10 days and to provide weekly updates until the investigation is completed.
In a statement, the NBI said the earlier conclusion of the Aurora Police Provincial Office, led by Percival Pineda, that there was no foul play does not automatically resolve questions of possible negligence or liability.
“A finding of no foul play speaks to the absence of intentional harm. It does not, by itself, answer whether these deaths resulted from negligence in the conduct of the activity,” the bureau said.
Investigators said they are examining whether criminal liability may arise under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code on reckless or simple imprudence resulting in homicide, as well as possible civil liabilities under the Civil Code provisions on negligence and duty of care in school-sanctioned activities.
Immigration lookout
In a separate development, the family of one of the victims has sought to place Ateneo head coach Thomas Anthony Baldwin under an immigration lookout bulletin order as part of the widening inquiry.
Family lawyer Israelito Torreon said the request was filed before Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, arguing that Baldwin may have information relevant to the planning, approval, supervision and safety arrangements of the team-building activity.
The petition stated that Baldwin’s knowledge could help clarify who organized the activity, what safety precautions were implemented, whether participants were properly briefed on risks and what emergency measures were prepared.
The request came days after Vida ordered the NBI to form the special task force to conduct a full-scale investigation into the deaths and determine possible liabilities.
Under Department of Justice rules, an immigration lookout bulletin order serves as a monitoring mechanism that alerts authorities if a listed individual leaves the country and provides travel information. It does not, however, prevent a person from traveling abroad; only a court-issued hold departure order can restrict movement.
Senators Bam Aquino and Robinhood Padilla have also called for a Senate investigation into the deaths of the two athletes.
Aquino on Thursday filed a resolution seeking the inquiry “to strengthen safety measures and accountability mechanisms for off-campus school activities and sports programs.” Aquino, an Ateneo alumnus, called on the appropriate Senate committees to determine the circumstances surrounding the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili on June 8. He visited Baterbonia’s wake to offer his condolences to the family.
Padilla said he would file a similar resolution on Monday.
Autopsy sought
The family of Adili has requested an autopsy before arrangements for the repatriation of his remains to Nigeria are finalized, the Nigerian Embassy in Manila said.
The embassy on Wednesday appealed to Nigerian community the Philippines “to remain calm, avoid speculation and refrain from circulating unverified information on social media.” There are about 10,000 Nigerians living in the Philippines — mostly university students taking up medicine and dentistry.
“At this stage, the Embassy has not received any official information suggesting foul play,” the mission posted on Facebook.
It also assured Nigerians that the “relevant Philippine authorities have commenced investigations, while other stakeholders are likewise reviewing the circumstances leading to the tragedy.” The embassy has been in direct contact with Adili’s family and “is providing all necessary consular assistance and support.” It is also cooperating with the Ateneo de Manila University, law enforcement agencies and other relevant authorities looking into the tragedy.
Also on Thursday, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) held a meeting with Ateneo de Manila University officials regarding the death of the two student-athletes.
“In the exercise of its mandate to oversee higher education institutions and protect student welfare, CHED immediately initiated fact-finding and accountability measures and required the submission of information and explanations necessary to determine responsibility and institutional compliance with applicable policies and standards,” the commission added.
Based on the report submitted to CHED by ADMU’s crisis management team last June 9, the incident occurred during an offseason team-building and training camp involving 24 student-athletes and seven adult supervisors composed of coaches and staff members of the ADMU Men’s Basketball Team.
