Manila: Malaca±ang on Thursday called for a prompt investigation into the deaths of two student-athletes of the Ateneo de Manila University amid reports and speculation surrounding the circumstances of their deaths. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants authorities to immediately determine the facts behind the incident. 'Unang-una po, of course, nakikiramay po tayo sa pangyayaring ito at ang nais din po ng Pangulo, hindi lamang po 'to sa sitwasyon na ganito pero sa lahat po ng mga Pilipino na napupunta sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon - dapat pong agaran ang pag-iimbestiga (First of all, we extend our condolences over this incident, and the President's directive, not only in situations like this but in all similar cases involving Filipinos, is that investigations must be conducted immediately),' Castro said during a Palace press briefing.
According to Philippines News Agency, Ateneo announced the passing of two of its men's basketball players, 19-year-old Rene Clert Baterbonia and 21-year-old Nigerian Divine Adili, in a tragic drowning incident Monday afternoon during a Blue Eagles' team building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. Asked about reports circulating on social media alleging that the incident may have involved hazing rather than a training activity, Castro said authorities should allow the investigation to establish the facts. 'Kailangan po talaga ng agarang pag-iimbestiga rito dahil hindi po naging maganda ang naging resulta ng sinasabing training. Of course, hindi po natin kailangang i-preempt or mag-pre-judge dito so kailangan po talaga ng agarang imbestigasyon (There must be an immediate investigation because the reported training did not end well. We should not preempt or prejudge the matter, which is why a thorough investigation is necessary),' she said.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has formed a multi-stakeholder panel to assist efforts aimed at establishing a comprehensive account of the incident and review existing athlete safety measures. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) are now looking deeper into the incident.
In a statement on Thursday, the NBI said it has deployed "a dedicated Task Force and personnel who are at present deeply investigating all angles of these deaths, including the question of whether foul play is indeed absent.' 'Our respect for the work of the local police does not displace the bureau's duty to satisfy itself, independently and upon the evidence, of every circumstance surrounding this tragedy,' the NBI said after the Aurora Police reported no signs of foul play. 'It is important for the public to understand what a finding of 'no foul play' does and does not resolve. Such a finding speaks to the absence of intentional harm. It does not, by itself, answer a separate and equally consequential question under our laws: whether these deaths resulted from negligence in the conduct of the activity."
The NBI explained that under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code, death caused by reckless or simple imprudence is a criminal matter wholly independent of any intent to harm. 'An event may be 'accidental' in the sense that no one wished it, and yet remain the product of a failure to exercise the care the law demands,' it said. 'Where an activity is organized and sanctioned by a school for its student-athletes, those who plan, supervise, and conduct it owe the participants the diligence of a good father of a family - the standard of ordinary care fixed by Articles 1173, 2176, and 2180 of the Civil Code.'
The NBI said it will conduct a probe 'with objectivity, without prejudgment, and in full coordination' with the PNP and appropriate authorities. "We ask the public to refrain from speculation that prejudices either the families or those who may become the subject of inquiry, and to allow the facts to be established with the care this loss deserves,' it added.
The two student-athletes were reportedly swimming when they were 'carried away by the current', the Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon) said, citing information gathered so far by investigators. Police said personnel of the Dipaculao Municipal Police Station immediately responded to the incident and coordinated with concerned agencies to provide assistance. The victims were rushed to a medical facility but were later declared dead by the attending physician. (With a report from Benjamin Pulta/PNA)
