Senators Robin Padilla and Bam Aquino have filed separate resolutions calling for a formal Senate inquiry into the tragic drowning of two Ateneo student-athletes in Dipaculao, Aurora.
The victims, 19-year-old Rene Baterbonia and 21-year-old Divine Adili, lost their lives on June 8 during an off-campus team-building activity. According to local police reports, the students were swept away by powerful ocean waves.
In his resolution, Senator Aquino emphasized that a thorough investigation is essential to guarantee accountability and establish more rigorous safety measures for future school-sponsored activities.
“The deaths of Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili demand a careful and impartial examination of the circumstances that led to the incident, not only to ensure accountability where warranted, but above all to draw lessons that may help prevent the loss of young lives in the future and to provide their families and the public with a full and truthful account of what transpired,” Aquino stated.
The proposed legislative probe will evaluate the adequacy of current institutional policies and national regulations governing off-campus training and sports events.
Lawmakers are expected to review critical safety requirements, such as supervision protocols, emergency response preparedness, and coordination with local authorities.
Echoing the call for accountability, Senator Padilla argued that Congress must scrutinize existing legal frameworks to determine if new legislation is necessary to better protect students during school-sanctioned events.
“The unfortunate deaths of two young student-athletes underscore the need to examine whether existing laws, regulations, policies, and institutional guidelines sufficiently protect students…” Padilla remarked.
As the Senate gears up for the potential inquiry, the tragedy has sparked a nationwide conversation regarding the legal and moral responsibilities of academic institutions in ensuring student safety during off-campus excursions.