FILE

The death of two student-athletes from Ateneo de Manila University during a team-building activity in Aurora have prompted calls for a closer look at safety measures in school sports programs.

Pinoy Workers Party-list Representative Karl Fernandez Legazpi on Tuesday expressed his condolences to the families of Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia and announced plans to push for a congressional investigation into the incident.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the entire Ateneo community following the tragic deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Aurora,” Legazpi said as he vowed to file a resolution calling for a congressional investigation.
According to the lawmaker, the tragedy highlights the importance of ensuring that student-athletes are protected not only in competition but also during school-sponsored activities.
“In light of these events, I will be filing a House Resolution urging the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the adequacy of existing policies, safety standards, and accountability mechanisms governing school-sponsored athletic programs, with the end in view of strengthening the protection and welfare of student-athletes,” Legazpi said.
Legazpi, who previously served as commissioner-at-large of the National Youth Commission and is now vice chairperson of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, said the loss extends beyond the sports community.

“These young athletes had promising futures ahead of them. Beyond their talents on the court, they were sons, students, teammates, and individuals whose lives were filled with potential. Their untimely passing is a heartbreaking loss not only to their families and school, but also to Philippine sports,” he added.

The lawmaker stressed that schools and institutions responsible for developing young athletes must be held to the highest standards of safety and accountability.

“As a former Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission and currently the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, I have always advocated for the welfare, protection, and holistic development of Filipino youth. This tragedy reminds us that while sports cultivate discipline, resilience, and excellence, institutions entrusted with the development of young athletes must likewise be held to the highest standards of safety, care, and accountability,” he said.

Legazpi emphasized that any inquiry should focus not only on understanding what happened but also on preventing similar incidents from occurring in the future.
“The goal is not merely to determine the circumstances of this particular tragedy, but to ensure that no other family has to endure the same loss. If this tragedy can happen in one of the country’s most respected educational institutions, then it is incumbent upon us to examine whether sufficient protections exist for student-athletes nationwide,” Legazpi said.

“We owe it to Divine and Rene, and to every young Filipino athlete, to learn from this loss and pursue meaningful reforms,” Legazpi added.