VIDEO: Ateneo apology over deaths of Baterbonia, Adili
MANILA, Philippines – Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Roberto C Yap, SJ, issues statement on the June 8 tragedy involving its men’s basketball team, which resulted in the deaths of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili. Yap also apologized to the families of Baterbonia and Adili, whose deaths had drawn national attention.
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“We are truly, deeply sorry. We apologize unreservedly to the families, and to our entire community, for the agonizing pain of this tragedy,” Yap said.
Known to the Jesuits
In a previously released statement, the Society of Jesus in the Philippines had expressed its sorrow over the passing of the two students. “The Society of Jesus in the Philippines is heartbroken over the tragic incident that claimed the lives of two of our students. We personally knew them. As a sophomore at Ateneo de Manila University, Divine Adili had already made friends at the Loyola Heights campus including a few Jesuits.
“Rene Baterbonia was the joy and pride of Ateneo de Davao University all throughout high school and counted Jesuit mentors among his friends. We knew them and we grieve their untimely deaths. We also knew their families and friends, especially Rene’s. We can only imagine the heartache they are going through these days. We pray for them and vow everything we can do to support them in this time of grief,” the June 12 statement from the Jesuit provincial or leader in the Philippines, Fr. Xavier Olin read.
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Fr. Olin added: “In the past few days, many in our communities, especially our alumni, have reminded us ofthe Ignatian and moral principles we passionately taught in our schools, like cura personalis or care for the individual person, compassion, social justice, truth, accountability, and solidarity. We are grateful for these reminders and for the call to greater fidelity whenever we fall short.”
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