A total of 429 Ateneo faculty members have called on the university administration to uphold transparency, accountability, and justice following the deaths of student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
In a statement released on Thursday, June 11, by the GUIDON, the school's official student publication, the educators urged Ateneo President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, S.J., to provide a full and transparent account of the circumstances of the tragic incident. They raised concerns about whether the university observed its regulations and due process during the team-building activity that preceded the deaths.
The faculty members sought answers on several critical issues, including whether they had properly informed parents and guardians about the activity and what safety protocols and risk-management measures were in place to protect the students.
Underscoring the need for accountability, the educators also questioned whether the leaves of absence granted to Head Coach Tab Baldwin and Team Manager Christopher Quimpo were tantamount to preventive suspension, noting that such a measure is considered standard procedure in cases involving serious incidents and ongoing investigations.
The group further demanded clarity on how the university intends to conduct what it has described as an independent and impartial investigation. They stressed that the inquiry must credibly and transparently uncover the truth.
Beyond procedural concerns, the faculty members called for stronger demonstrations of responsibility and remorse from university leaders and members of the coaching staff. They argued that official statements issued through social media have fallen short of conveying the gravity of the loss and the pain endured by the victims' families and the broader Ateneo community.
Calling for justice for Baterbonia and Adili, the educators emphasized that transparency and accountability are essential not only for uncovering the facts but also for restoring trust within the university community.
“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,” the statement concluded.
