MANILA, Philippines – Paiimbestigahan ni PINOY Workers Party-list Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi ang pagkalunod ng dalawang estudyante ng Ateneo de Manila University habang isinasagawa ang isang team-building activity sa Aurora.
Sinabi ni Legazpi, dating commissioner ng National Youth Commission at kasalukuyang vice chairperson ng House Committee on Youth and Sports Development na ang pagkalunod nina Divine Adili at Rene Clert Baterbonia ay hindi dapat nangyari dahil pananagutan ng paaralan na tiyakin ang kanilang kaligtasan.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the entire Ateneo community following the tragic deaths of student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia during a team-building activity in Aurora,” ani Legazpi.
Dahil dito, isang reslusyon upang imbestigahan ang insidente ang nakatakdang ihain ng mambabatas upang makapagbuo ng sapat na polisiya upang hindi maulit ito.
“In light of these events, I will be filing a House Resolution urging the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the adequacy of existing policies, safety standards, and accountability mechanisms governing school-sponsored athletic programs, with the end in view of strengthening the protection and welfare of student-athletes.”
Aniya, meron pang kinabukasan ang naturang mga atleta at malaking kawalan sa larangan ng sports.
“These young athletes had promising futures ahead of them. Beyond their talents on the court, they were sons, students, teammates, and individuals whose lives were filled with potential. Their untimely passing is a heartbreaking loss not only to their families and school, but also to Philippine sports”
Binigyang diin pa ni Legaspi na ang insidenteng ito ay dapat magsilbing paalala na sa mga programang pampalakasan ay mahalaga ang kaligtasan at proteksyon ng mga batang atleta habang isinasagawa ang pagsasanay.
“As a former Commissioner-at-Large of the National Youth Commission and currently the Vice Chairperson of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, I have always advocated for the welfare, protection, and holistic development of Filipino youth. This tragedy reminds us that while sports cultivate discipline, resilience, and excellence, institutions entrusted with the development of young athletes must likewise be held to the highest standards of safety, care, and accountability.”
Nauna rito ay nagpaabot ng pakikiramay si Legaspi sa pamilya ng dalawang nasawing atleta maging sa Ateneo matapos ang insidente ng pagkalunod nina Adili at Baterbonia.
“We owe it to Divine and Rene, and to every young Filipino athlete, to learn from this loss and pursue meaningful reforms,” giit pa ni Legazpi. (Meliza Maluntag)
