A Senate inquiry is being sought into the deaths of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, with the aim of reviewing safety measures for school-related activities.
Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla has prepared and signed a resolution calling for an investigation, in aid of legislation, into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The measure is expected to be formally filed once the Senate’s Legislative Bills and Index Service resumes receiving legislative submissions.
The proposed inquiry seeks to determine whether existing policies on supervision, emergency preparedness, risk assessment, and crisis response are sufficient to protect students participating in school-organized activities.
The deaths of Baterbonia and Adili have raised concerns over safety standards in outdoor, athletic, adventure-based, and other potentially hazardous school programs.
“Napakasakit ng nangyari kina Rene at Divine. Mga kabataang puno sila ng pangarap at may maliwanag na kinabukasan. Utang natin sa kanilang mga pamilya, sa kanilang mga paaralan, at sa lahat ng estudyanteng Pilipino na tiyaking mabibigyan natin ng kasagutan ang mga nangyari at mapapalakas ang mga hakbang para hindi na ito maulit sa iba,” Padilla said.
Under the resolution, the appropriate Senate committee or committees would be asked to conduct a motu proprio inquiry to establish the facts of the tragedy and identify possible legislative measures to strengthen student protection standards.
Padilla said the inquiry is not intended to immediately assign blame, but to determine what happened and identify gaps in existing rules and safety mechanisms.
“Ang layunin natin ay hindi ang agad na maghanap ng masisisi kundi ang matiyak na matututo tayo sa trahedyang ito. Kung may mga kakulangan sa mga patakaran, proseso, o mekanismo ng kaligtasan, tungkulin nating ayusin at palakasin ang mga ito para sa kapakanan ng ating mga kabataan,” he said.
On Wednesday evening, Padilla visited Arlington Memorial Chapels to pay his respects and extend condolences to the family of Baterbonia.
“Bilang isang magulang at bilang lingkod-bayan, napakahirap tanggapin ang pagkawala ng isang kabataang marami pang pangarap at maiaambag sa lipunan. Nakikiisa tayo sa pagdadalamhati ng pamilya ni Rene at ng pamilya ni Divine sa napakabigat nilang pinagdaraanan ngayon,” he said.
The senator said the tragedy should lead to stronger safeguards for students participating in school-sanctioned activities nationwide.
“Ang pinakamainam na paraan upang parangalan ang alaala nina Rene at Divine ay tiyaking may mabuting pagbabagong maidudulot ang kanilang sinapit,” Padilla said.
He expressed hope that the Senate inquiry would help identify policy gaps and lead to reforms that would better protect students in future school-related programs.