The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) will await the findings of ongoing government investigations before deliberating on any potential sanctions against Ateneo de Manila University following the deaths of two student-athletes, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Baterbonia, 18, and Adili, 21, died on Monday afternoon after a drowning incident during a team-building activity at the Hermanos Leisure Farm and Surf Camp in Barangay Libis, Dipaculao, Aurora.
UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag, speaking during the Philippine Sports Commission’s Media Briefing of its Sports Stakeholders’ Panel, said the country’s premier collegiate league will not move ahead of the lead investigating agencies, including the National Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group under the Philippine National Police, and the Department of Justice.
“We go where the evidence leads. We are now in the process of gathering information and awaiting official reports that are being prepared,” Saguisag said on Wednesday afternoon.
Instead, the UAAP will continue coordinating with the PSC’s Sports Stakeholders’ Panel, led by PSC Chairman Pato Gregorio, PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Atty. Erika Dy, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Shirley Agrupis, National Youth Commission Chairman Jeff Ortega, and Department of Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma.
“Of course, we would like to hear from the concerned parties as part of due process. Kahapon was organizational, today was also organizational, and meron naman kaming narrating, and may resolutions na intact. Mas mabuti mag-align muna tayo. Wait for the reports and align with this panel,” he said.
“Insofar as our bylaws are concerned, maybe we can also study that option. Ngayon, I am sitting as part of this panel, which not only affect Rene and Divine, but as mentioned, not just student-athletes, but all athletes in general.”
The UAAP has a historical precedent for imposing stiff sanctions. In April 2006, the league unanimously voted to suspend De La Salle University from all sports for UAAP Season 69, citing negligence after the school submitted spurious eligibility documents.
More recently, in September 2020, the UAAP Board of Trustees upheld an indefinite ban on former University of Santo Tomas men’s basketball head coach Aldin Ayo following the Sorsogon Bubble controversy.
The ban was grounded in findings from the Department of Health, which determined that Ayo endangered the health and well-being of student-athletes under his supervision by conducting training during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With these precedents in mind, Saguisag reiterated that the UAAP will convene and review its full bylaws once complete reports are submitted by the lead government agencies.
“For context, I am sure that you are aware of previous incidents before. Just to clarify that in those cases, we have waited for the official reports—all of them,” Saguisag explained.
“I believe Ateneo has already made a statement as well—page 2 of their June 9, 2026 statement—and they have cooperated with the NBI and CIDG. Even kanina, we were very careful when organizing. Ano ba pwede nating gawin? Wala pa experts dito at wala pa Ateneo. Kaya we can’t pass judgment this early. Not to trivialize what happened, but again, due process states that everyone should be heard. And the expertise of each agency shall be considered.”
Beyond these efforts, the UAAP has also taken steps to further strengthen the safety of its student-athletes.
Saguisag revealed that the league participated in the Philippine Heart Association Convention, which led to a recommendation for all member schools to mandate the availability of automated external defibrillators.
These initiatives come in the wake of the passing of former University of the Philippines foreign student-athlete Israel Friday and National University Nazareth School girls’ basketball standout Ashlyn Abong.
“I am very happy and excited to announce that I was part of the Philippine Heart Association Convention… One of the calls that we recommended to the individual member schools is to have the mandatory AEDs. Those are concrete steps that we are taking—not expecting that something like this would happen. Same thing,” Saguisag shared.
“In terms of crafting these policies, you have to understand also that we try to give reminders to the member schools. Pag tayo maglalaro, for sure meron dalawang AEDs.”
