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Combination photo shows incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia and Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Rene Baterbonia via Facebook, UAAP
MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo students, faculty members and staff walked out of classes on Friday, June 19, calling for truth, accountability and justice after the drowning deaths of men's basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Wearing black, the Ateneo community, led by The Sanggunian student council, roamed around the university before assembling at the Zen Garden as an act of protest to the university in the aftermath of the death of Baterbonia and Adili during a team building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8.
“Ateneo, do better. Ipahayag natin ang mga panawagan natin para sa katarungan at panangutan lalo na mula sa administrasyon ng ating pamantasan” chanted the students in a mass walkout. “Atenista, walk out na. Hustisya para kay Rene at Divine. Hustisya!”
Aside from the protest march, the Ateneo graduating class of 2026 also wore black wrist bands and ribbons during the commencement rites yesterday as calls for the accountability of university officials led by president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ, grow louder each day.
Last week, over a thousand students, alumni and faculty signed a petition and an open letter demanding the Ateneo administration for transparency and accountability on what really transpired in Aurora that claimed the young lives of Baterbonia, 18, and Adili, 21.
The protest started from the netizens and the public outside the Ateneo campus, particularly on the Ateneo men’s basketball team coaches, officials and players, but the pressure had been felt from within the school grounds.
Multiple government investigations, including internal ones by Ateneo, the UAAP and the Commission on Higher Education, are ongoing on university officials, coaches, staff and players led by Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, who yesterday appeared before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).
Baldwin has been under the hottest fire as accounts of former players describing his training camp style as “military-like, “hell week” and “deadly training camp” resurfaced in the aftermath of the tragedy, prompting his resignation as well as team manager Epok Quimpo’s last week.
