MANILA, Philippines — Senators Bam Aquino and Christopher ‘Bong’ Go on Wednesday called for an investigation into the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, who drowned during a training camp in Dipaculao on June 8.
During a privilege speech at the Senate, Aquino urged the Senate committee on basic education, which he chairs, to conduct a hearing on the incident.
“The tragedy that befell Rene and Divine calls for clarity and truth,” Aquino said in Filipino.
He said the Senate could provide a venue for determining the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two student-athletes.
“For the parents, families, friends, and community of Rene and Divine, the Senate may serve as a space where the truth about what happened on that day can come to light,” Aquino said.
Aquino said the committee would review existing policies of the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education, as well as regulations and standards governing sports and athletics.
He added that findings and recommendations from the inquiry could contribute to the proposed Safer Schools Act.
In a separate privilege speech, Go expressed condolences to the families of Baterbonia and Adili and supported calls for an investigation.
Go said he filed Senate Resolution No. 450, which seeks an inquiry into the incident to help develop policies, protocols and guidelines aimed at improving the safety of student-athletes.
“I also call on the appropriate government agencies and organizations to conduct an immediate and thorough investigation to determine the true circumstances of what happened,” Go said in Filipino.
Go also said he filed Senate Bill No. 2261, or the proposed Student-Athlete Safety and Welfare Act, which would require the Philippine Sports Commission to create a National Student-Athlete Safety Code.
“Whatever the outcome of the investigation may be, we hope it will yield important lessons that can help prevent the repetition of such a tragedy. If laws or policies are needed to prevent this from happening again, we are ready to address it in the Senate,” Go said.
The deaths of Baterbonia and Adili are under investigation by authorities following the drowning incident during Ateneo de Manila University’s training camp in Aurora province.