Tovic Salvador

Article (news)

John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17816887700901781688768165.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. Photos from UAAP Media/NBTC"/>Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. Photos from UAAP Media/NBTC</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Senator Bam Aquino has asked for a Senate probe to clear the air on happened during the June 8 tragedy in Aurora that claimed the lives of Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.Aquino, a notable Ateneo alumnus, asked for Senate hearings to be conducted by the Committee on Basic Education and Committee on Justice in the upper chamber on Wednesday.This, as the Senate convened during the 20th Congress’ first special session, which was called by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.“Ang trahedyang sumapit kina Rene [Baterbonia] at Divine [Adili] ay nangangailangan ng kalinawan at katotohanan,” said Aquino, who is also the chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education.“At para po sa magulang, pamilya, kaibigan at komunidad ni Rene at Divine, posible pong maging espasyo ang Senado upang lumabas ang katotohanan sa mga pangyayari sa araw na ‘yon,” he added.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/immigration-lookout-bulletin-order-issued-vs-baldwin-other-ateneo-coaches-1603">READ: Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order issued vs. Baldwin, other Ateneo team officials </a></div>Aquino, who earlier filed a resolution seeking legislative inquiry into the incident, visited the wake of Baterbonia on June 11 to personally offer his condolences to the Ateneo recruit’s family.“Noong nakaraang Huwebes, nabisita po natin ang mga magulang ni Rene. Sa gitna ng lungkot, dalamhati, at galit, iisa lang po ang kanilang hiling — ang katotohanan,” said the lawmaker from Tarlac.“Ano ba talaga ang nangyari sa kanilang anak? At sa palagay ko po, kung ito po ay nangyari sa kahit sino sa atin, ito rin naman po ang hihingin natin, at higit pa dito,” he added.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/prince-eze-says-divine-adili-s-father-plans-to-fly-to-ph-1523">READ: Prince Eze says Divine Adili&#x27;s father plans to fly to PH </a></div>Aquino said the hearings would study the current policies by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on rules and regulations concerning student-athletes.“Sa pagdinig na ‘to, suriin po natin ang kasalukuyang polisiya ng DepEd, ng CHED, ng mga sports and athletic rules, regulations, and standards po nito. At ang lalabas po sa pagdinig ay maaari ring makadagdag sa ating panukala na Safer Schools Act,” he said.The inquiry will examine whether existing laws, regulations, and institutional policies governing school-organized activities are sufficient and consistently enforced, particularly with respect to off-campus sporting, training, and team-building activities.It also seeks to review existing requirements for school-organized off-campus activities, including parental consent, safety protocols, supervision, emergency response measures, coordination with local authorities, and other safeguards to protect students.<div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/17/guilt-ridden-sam-reyes-still-in-disbelief-after-losing-roommates-baterbonia-adili-1429">READ: Guilt-ridden Sam Reyes still in disbelief after losing roommates Baterbonia, Adili </a></div>Newly-elected Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian likewise expressed his condolences to the families of Baterbonia and Adili, as Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri moved to refer the motion.“Kami rin po ay nakikiramay po sa pamilya ng nasawing basketball players,” said Gatchalian.Meanwhile, Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who remained as head of the Committee on Sports, condoled with the Baterbonia family, which hails from Mindanao just like the lawmaker.“Napakasakit po sa akin na isang 18-year-old na batang basketball player ay naputol po ang kaniyang pangarap — hindi lang para sa sarili, kundi para sa kaniyang pamilya,” said Go.Go, in his capacity as sports committee chairperson, said that he is associating himself with Aquino’s manifestation that aims to look into the deaths of the student-athletes.An Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order has been issued against resigned Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, former team manager Christopher &quot;Epok&quot; Quimpo, Reynaldo Jacinto Jr., Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano, the Department of Justice announced today, in connection to the deaths of the student-athletes.

Senator Bam Aquino has asked for a Senate probe to clear the air on happened during the June 8 tragedy in Aurora that claimed the lives of Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Senator Bam Aquino has asked for a Senate probe to clear the air on happened during the June 8 tragedy in Aurora that claimed the lives of Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Aquino asks for Senate probe on Baterbonia, Adili deaths

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Aquino asks for Senate probe on Baterbonia, Adili deaths

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 17, 2026 05:38 PM PHT

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Updated June 17, 2026 08:09 PM PHT

Read More:

basketball

Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo Blue Eagles

UAAP Basketball

Rene Baterbonia

Divine Adili

Bam Aquino

Senate probe

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