Malacañang on Thursday urged authorities to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes, as questions and speculation continue to circulate online regarding the circumstances of the incident.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. wants investigators to immediately establish the facts surrounding the deaths.
“Unang-una po, of course, nakikiramay po tayo sa pangyayaring ito at ang nais din po ng Pangulo, hindi lamang po ‘to sa sitwasyon na ganito pero sa lahat po ng mga Pilipino na napupunta sa ganitong klaseng sitwasyon – dapat pong agaran ang pag-iimbestiga,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
Ateneo de Manila University earlier confirmed the deaths of two members of its men’s basketball program—19-year-old Rene Clert Baterbonia and 21-year-old Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili—who drowned during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday afternoon.
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has since formed a multi-stakeholder panel to help establish a clearer account of the incident and review existing safety protocols for athletes participating in training activities.
Authorities, including the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), are also conducting separate inquiries into the case.
Castro was asked about social media posts suggesting that the incident may not have been a standard training activity, but involved other circumstances such as alleged hazing.
She said investigators should be allowed to complete their work before conclusions are made.
“Kailangan po talaga ng agarang pag-iimbestiga rito dahil hindi po naging maganda ang naging resulta ng sinasabing training. Of course, hindi po natin kailangang i-preempt or mag-pre-judge dito so kailangan po talaga ng agarang imbestigasyon,” she said.
Based on initial findings of the Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon), the two athletes were swimming when they were reportedly caught by a strong current and carried into deeper waters.
Responding personnel from the Dipaculao Municipal Police Station were immediately deployed to the area and coordinated with local agencies to provide assistance.
The victims were rushed to a medical facility but were later declared dead by attending physicians, police said.
Authorities have yet to release final findings as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the drowning incident.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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