Ateneo faculty association demands transparency and accountability over student deaths
Members of the Ateneo Loyola Schools Faculty Association have aired their concerns over how the Ateneo de Manila University administration is handling the aftermath of the deaths of two students.
In a letter addressed to ADMU President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, S.J., the faculty members acknowledged that they are "with you and the Ateneo community in grieving and praying over" the deaths of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili.
"We write this letter as educators who care deeply for the well-being, safety, rights, and dignity of all our students. These are the very values that Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) has formed and deepened in us: values of magis, cura personalis, compassion and social justice, which we strive to express in our teaching and mentorship, our institutional policies and processes," the group said.
The concerned educators are appealing for clarity and transparency from the university administration.
"As the institution responsible for the safety of our students, we are accountable," they stated in the letter. "The families, the Ateneo community, and the larger public have the right to know and hear Ateneo de Manila’s institutional voice."
While the group acknowledged the university's June 11 statement, they noted that it still raises several "crucial" questions.
"Was due process followed in this activity in accordance with University regulations? Were parents and guardians duly informed of the nature of the activity?" they asked. "Were safety measures put in place to anticipate or mitigate risks such as drowning?"
They also called out university officials for failing to come forward "sooner and in person."
Additionally, the faculty members questioned the steps taken to provide support to the victims' families, teammates, and the wider community, asking: "How has the University responded to their questions and concerns, especially those of the bereaved parents?"
Regarding the leaves of absence taken by head coach Tab Baldwin and team manager Epok Quimpo, the group questioned if the move is "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," they said.
The group further pressed the administration on institutional accountability, asking: "What is the University’s operationalization of an “independent and impartial investigation”? What concrete measures of accountability have been put in place, not just to aid in the resolution of this case, but also to ensure that it does not happen again?"
"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," the group added.
The ALSFA also appealed for "sincere and humane expressions of apology, empathy, and compassion from the University leaders and coaching staff," urging them to address the community face-to-face.
"The nameless, faceless, and sterile official social media posts have downplayed the gravity of the situation and the accountability of the University," they wrote. "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."
"The lives of Rene and Divine matter. We may never fully recover from this tragedy, but we can make their deaths count by providing meaningful and tangible support to the families they left behind and by embracing the painful lessons of this tragedy with collective humility, resolve and compassion. Rene and Divine deserve no less," the group ended.
As of writing, 163 faculty members signed the appeal.
Ateneo has been facing scrutiny over its public statements and overall handling of information, with some critics pointing to delays, perceived gaps in transparency, and the tone of its messaging.
Former Ateneo student-athlete Gretchen Ho, for one, said in a Facebook post that while she acknowledges that "people are still in a state of shock" and that the public should allow them to "grieve and find their footing," Ateneo's silence "will only allow speculation and false narratives to thrive."
Ateneo graduate Janina Vela also expressed the same sentiments on Threads. "Polished press releases do not help when the public is demanding justice. If the institution truly wants to protect those affected from disinformation, why not silence the 'noise' with the truth?" she wrote.
"It is 'the Ateneo way' that has taught us to use our voices to demand what is deserved. Is that noise? Or is that simply what you’ve modeled for other instances but this one?" she continued.
In the June 11 statement, the university president reiterated several details gathered from those present at the team's June 8 conditioning exercise. Based on witness testimonies cited by Yap, the team was in the midst of the exercise, standing in knee-deep water near the shoreline. Massive waves and a strong rip current suddenly overpowered the athletes.
To arrive at a fair and independent review, he said the university's Board of Trustees mandated "a thorough fact-finding inquiry." Its task is to analyze the circumstances around the incident, recreate the timeline of events, review athletic protocols, and interview each individual present during the tragedy.
