Sara Duterte, may matapang na panawagan sa Ateneo para kina Baterbonia at Adili

• Vice President Sara Duterte expressed disappointment over what she described as Ateneo's inadequate response following the deaths of two basketball players
• She said schools should immediately communicate with and support grieving families during tragedies
• Duterte stressed that the deaths involved student-athletes and should not be treated as ordinary incidents
• The Vice President said both the families and the school should work together in understanding what happened

Vice President Sara Duterte voiced concern over what she described as shortcomings in the response of Ateneo following the deaths of basketball players Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili, saying the institution should have taken a more active role in assisting their families.

Duterte made the remarks after attending the 128th Independence Day celebration in Davao City on Friday, where she was asked about the recent passing of the two student-athletes.

According to the Vice President, schools have a responsibility to immediately extend support and communicate with bereaved families in the aftermath of tragic incidents.

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“Dapat kasi sa mga ganyan na mga panahon ay nauuna ‘yung pag-reach out nila sa pamilya at pagpapaintindi sa pamilya kung ano ‘yung nangyari at ano ‘yung mga kailangan nilang gawin... the family and the school,” she said.

Duterte said she believes the response of the school was insufficient not only in the case of Baterbonia but also in the death of another player.

“Unang-una nakakalungkot na ganon nangyari sa isang estudyante at sa isang promising na athlete natin sa bansa, at pakiramdam ko kulang na kulang yong response ah ng Ateneo sa nangyari hindi lang kay Rene doon din sa isang um foreigner na player din ng Ateneo na namatay.”

She also emphasized that incidents involving the deaths of students should not be treated as ordinary cases.

“So ah pakiramdam ko ay ah malaki ang pagkukulang ng ah paaralan sa pagbigay suporta ah sa pamilya lalong-lalo na na hindi ito ah ordinaryong ah pangyayari no. Ito ay uh pagka pagkamatay ng isang uh estudyante.”

The Vice President's comments came as discussions continue regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the two young athletes.

Baterbonia previously represented the Davao Eagles in the Palarong Pambansa after earning an off-campus scholarship and being admitted to Ateneo de Davao University.

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Sara Duterte-Carpio is a Filipino lawyer and politician who serves as the 15th Vice President of the Philippines, having previously served as the Secretary of Education from 2022 to 2024. The daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, she initially built her political career in Mindanao, where she made history as the first female and youngest-elected mayor of Davao City.

In another report, Senator Robin Padilla paid his respects to late Ateneo basketball player Rene Baterbonia by visiting his wake in Quezon City. The actor-politician shared photos from the visit, including images of himself wearing Baterbonia’s basketball jersey, accompanied by a heartfelt message honoring the young athlete. While many netizens commended Padilla for his gesture and willingness to extend support to the bereaved family, others questioned certain details seen in the photos and expressed mixed reactions online.

Meanwhile, social media personality Miss Everything generated online buzz after sharing her thoughts on accountability and fairness in politics. In her post, she mentioned both Sara Duterte and Bongbong Marcos, stressing that all public officials should be treated equally under the law. Many netizens praised her remarks, saying her message carried weight despite her signature humorous use of English grammar. Some commenters even drew comparisons between her political views and those expressed by other online personalities.

Source: KAMI.com.gh