Ateneo president apologizes, vows continued support to Baterbonia, Adili families
Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto "Bobby" Yap said he has personally met with and repeatedly apologized to the bereaved families of student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, assuring them of the university's continued support "over several years."
Yap made the statement on Friday, June 26, during his scheduled appearance before the National Bureau of Investigation.
"I would like to say that we have been, since day one, with the Baterbonya and Adili families. We have condoled with them, we have apologized, we continue to condole with them, we continue to apologize. And we have offered and have given support and assistance to them and we will continue to do so over several years," he told the media.
He also recalled meeting Rene's parents on June 9 at Arlington Memorial Chapels following the tragedy.
"I was there for quite a while, and I prayed with them. We blessed the body with them. The next day, I was there at the Mass and I spoke to them in Visayan. After that, I met the family, just the two of them, privately."
Yap said Divine, whose body arrived at his hometown in Nigeria on June 25, is set to be buried on Saturday. He added that he had spoken with Divine's uncle to express his condolences and apologies, noting that the school has promised to help and provide assistance to them.
He also explained that he was unable to attend Rene's funeral in Agusan because he had been subpoenaed. Instead, a vice president from the university's basic education unit attended the funeral on his behalf.
Yap likewise shared that a Filipino Jesuit is in Nigeria to represent him at Divine's funeral. He reiterated that he would not make any more comments to respect "the privacy of what we said."
"I cannot imagine the grief of Mrs. Baterbonia, Mr. Baterbonia. I cannot imagine the grief of Mr. Adili and Mrs. Adili. We have met them and I cannot imagine. So I really like that we respect the grieving that is there," he added.
Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Friday that the PNP-CIDG has recommended filing hazing charges against resigned head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 others in connection with the deaths of two Ateneo student-athletes.
The PNP-CIDG recommended that the Department of Justice conduct the evaluation, case build-up, and preliminary investigation against the respondents for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act. He noted that the law "penalizes those who actually planned or participated in the hazing if, as a consequence of the hazing, death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation results therefrom."
Assistant Secretary Brian Mey Tomas said the investigation found that the athletes allegedly underwent strenuous drills, disciplinary exercises, and water-based training despite dangerous conditions during the team-building activity.
Ateneo is observing a 40-day mourning period in honor of Adili and Baterbonia following their deaths. During this time, the Ateneo flag is flown at half-mast, daily Masses are held at the college chapel, black cloth is draped on campus fences, and celebratory activities are toned down.
