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| The PSC is forming a stakeholders' panel to look at the tragic drowning incident involving Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. FilOil EcoOil Sports (file photo) |
MANILA—The Philippine Sports Commission will lead a "stakeholders' panel" that will help the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice in the investigation regarding a drowning incident that claimed the lives of Ateneo recruits Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
According to the PSC, the UAAP, of which Ateneo is a member, will join the panel, which will first function as a fact-finding body regarding the events that led to the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili amid strong waves outside the shores of Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday.
"As the government agency mandated to provide leadership and direction in sports development and athlete welfare, the PSC is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations and is convening a sports stakeholders' panel to support the efforts of the Philippine National Police and the Department of Justice—with the objective of establishing a clear, accurate, and comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired," the PSC said in a statement on Tuesday.
Also joining the panel are representatives from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the Commission on Higher Education, and the National Youth Commission, as the group will review existing training camp programs and identify which regimens and drills may need a rehash.
"Beyond fact-checking, this multi-stakeholder body... will examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices toward resolutions to strengthen safeguards in athletic training environments," the PSC further stated.
"The goal is not only to understand what happened, but to ensure that lessons learned lead to safer, more responsive systems that protect athletes while sustaining high-performance sport. Excellence in sport requires environments that push human potential, but never at the expense of safety."
The stakeholders' panel is expected to convene immediately.
