ATENEO de Manila University (ADMU) president Fr. Roberto Yap on Thursday condemned the cyberbullying and trial by publicity of the student-athletes who survived the June 8 off campus training tragedy.
Yap on Thursday attended the Senate Committee on Basic Education public hearing on several proposed bills on student welfare as well as the protection of student athletes.
Sen. Bam Aquino, the committee chairman, earlier led a Senate investigation into the drowning of ADMU basketball players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, during a training activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Considered one of the country’s most promising young basketball players, Baterbonia led Davao Region to the 2025 Palarong Pambansa basketball title and earned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award.
Adili, a 21-year-old Nigerian, was set to enter his second year as center for the Blue Eagles.
“Although we did not immediately publicize every action we undertook, our work in supporting the families began on June 8 and has continued to this day without interruption,” Yap said.
“At the same time, we continue to provide pastoral, psycho-social and other forms of support to the surviving student-athletes and other members of the university community directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.
Yap said they “not only lost their beloved teammates and friends, and witnessed this tragedy firsthand, but many continue to endure cyberbullying, online harassment and trial by publicity while grieving.”
“We unequivocally condemn these acts because they only deepen the pain of those already grieving by spreading disinformation and causing further harm,” Yap said.
“Our support for those affected does not diminish our commitment to care for every member of our community while the legal processes are ongoing,” Yap said, as he became emotional.
“Beyond the legal and regulatory processes, our objective is to understand what happened, learn from this tragedy and strengthen the systems that uphold the safety, well-being and formation of every student, whether in athletics or in any other University activity,” he said.
Yap said the ADMU provided all possible assistance to both families. “We facilitated the return of Rene and the Baterbonia family to Agusan, and of Divine to Nigeria.” “We know that none of these efforts can ever fill the void left by Rene and Divine, or change what has happened, or ease the immeasurable loss their families continue to bear,” he said.
“They were simply the beginning of our continuing efforts to accompany and support them. Our work in supporting both families remains steadfast,” he said.
