Every student at any university or institution has the right to pursue their goals. In this process, goals should not be sacrificed for safety and health. Sadly, these requirements were never fulfilled for collegiate athletes Baterbonia and Adili. The nation has been devastated by the tragic news of their death, an event that could have been avoided. Ultimately, it was all reduced to wasted potential. The university now bears the entire weight of accountability. Justice should be served; the guilty must be questioned, and complete accountability must be ensured.

On June 8, 2026, the collegiate athletes passed away in a drowning incident during a team-building activity involving members of the Ateneo de Manila Men’s basketball program. If there are activities that would require the student’s active involvement, the university, through the team's supervisors, should have communicated with the relatives of those involved via a waiver. Not only does communication play an important role in the process, but the activity heads should also have brought medical personnel and volunteers. The potential future that these promising players would have had ended right then and there.

Since the activity was conducted off-campus, there should have been clear precautions in place beforehand. All local off-campus activities are subject to strict and explicit regulations under CHED Memorandum Order No. 63, series of 2017. The policy mandates that those in charge obtain the student-athletes' explicit parental approval and medical certifications; the institution must communicate and work with the local government unit (LGU) in the area where they will conduct their activity. The team-building program should have complied with the need to keep its participants safe and aligned with legal directives.

What continues to trouble many netizens is the decision to allow swimming amid the unpredictable tides. Plan Bs and Plan Cs should have been kept in mind for those organizing the team-building activity. Young, promising athletes like Baterbonia and Adili would still be with us today had it not been for the lapse in judgment by supervising authorities. A single oversight amplified the risk for the entire team. It is easy to claim that safety is non-negotiable, but it is deeply tragic when it is not practiced by those explicitly trusted with it.

The crushing burden of it all now rests heavily on the families of the deceased. Baterbonia’s mother expressed her frustration at the death of her son, who had last contacted her before his device was confiscated. Upon the news of his death, she demanded justice for what had happened. Adili’s family, who hail from Nigeria, expressed their wish to have his remains returned to them. Both families are left with nothing but deep sorrow as they continue to work with the university in reviewing the incident.

Health is a priority. Safety is a priority. These are non-negotiables that are always considered for any organization. A life promised a dream should never be sacrificed for an avoidable risk. Until clarity is given from the case, the supervisors' negligence must still be examined. The community needs to ponder and reflect deeply on this tragedy. In the case of Baterbonia and Adili, there should be empathy for the families whose hope has been shattered. There should be justice for the damage done. One thing is certain: the immense support we give to our collegiate athletes must be matched by an equal commitment to ensuring their potential is never wasted.

The Frontman