House Committee on Youth and Sports Development Vice Chairperson Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi has formally filed a resolution seeking a congressional inquiry into the deaths of two Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes in Dipaculao, Aurora, in a bid to strengthen safeguards for student-athletes and clarify accountability in sports programs.
In an exclusive interview on DZRH's Isyung Pambayan, Legazpi said House Resolution No. 1110 aims to examine existing policies governing sports training and ensure that schools, coaches, and sports administrators are properly held responsible for athlete safety.
“We wanted to set a clear line of accountability lalo na po sa usapin ng training ng mga student-athletes,” Legazpi said.
"They must always ensure na… kailangan nilang gampanan kung hindi man higitan ang responsibilidad para pangalagaan at protection ng kanilang mga atleta," he added.
He stressed that sports development should not come at the cost of exposing student-athletes to preventable risks, adding that the incident highlights the need to review safety regulations in schools and sports organizations.
“Alam niyo po, ang sports para sa ating mga Pilipino ay napaka-importante… at kailangan po mapangalagaan natin ang careers nila,” he added.
Legazpi also welcomed early moves from government agencies, noting that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has already begun coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and other agencies for a fact-finding investigation. He said CHED has also directed Ateneo to submit a detailed incident report.
The resolution comes following the reported deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, which have prompted renewed calls for accountability and stricter safety measures in collegiate sports programs.
