The team building was intended to strengthen unity, discipline, and trust among team members. However, the loss of two young lives is no longer a simple accident issue but a question of responsibility.
If it is true that the activity had no official approval, the question becomes heavier: who decided, who managed, and why was an activity with great risk allowed without proper authorization and security from their superiors?
The deaths of Rene Bartebonia and Divine Adili are not just the loss of two athletes but also the loss of dreams, futures, and hopes for their families.
On Tuesday, June 16, the Office of College Athletics (OCA) of Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) revealed that they had no role in organizing or approving the men's basketball team-building activity held in Dipaculao, Aurora on June 8, which resulted in the deaths of two student-athletes.
This was stated by Benjo Afuang, representative of the OCA, during a town hall meeting at the university after some Ateneo faculty members inquired who actually authorized the activity and whether it complied with safety measures for athletes.
However, Afuang strongly denied this and said they were not aware of the activity.
The response received negative reactions, as who would believe that an athletics office had no knowledge of activities related to athletes? So if they are not responsible for approving it, which department in the institution actually grants permission for such activities?
This is a big question that hopefully will not lead to another question.
In the world of sports, victory is important, but the value of life is greater. No championship, no team building, and no program can be more valuable than the safety of athletes. The biggest lesson here is that leadership and an institution must always choose the security and welfare of their athletes above all else.
