Nanawagan ang National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) sa publiko na iwasang maniwala o gumawa ng mga espekulasyon sa mga pangyayari sa pagkasawi ng dalawang Ateneo Blue Eagles Men’s Basketball team na sina Rene Clert Baterbonia at Divine Adili. 

Sa inilabas na pahayag ng NBI nitong Huwebes, Hunyo 11, ipinaliwanag nilang kinikilala nila ang lumabas na resulta mula sa inisyal na imbestigasyon ng Aurora Police Provincial Office na nagsasabing walang anumang senyales ng foul play sa pagkasawi nina Baterbonia at Adili. 

Gayunman, sa ilalim din ng direktiba ng Department of Justice (DOJ), ipinaliwanag ng NBI na sila ay nagpadala ng Task Force at personnel, upang patuloy na imbestigahan ang lahat ng anggulo sa trahedya, kabilang dito ang pagkuwestyon sa kawalan ng foul play sa pagkasawi. 

“With due respect to the initial findings of the Aurora Police Provincial Office, which reported no signs of foul play, the National Bureau of Investigation — acting upon the directive of the Department of Justice and pursuant to its mandate under Republic Act No. 10867 — has deployed a dedicated Task Force and personnel who are at present deeply investigating all angles of these deaths, including the question of whether foul play is indeed absent. Our respect for the work of the local police does not displace the Bureau’s duty to satisfy itself, independently and upon the evidence, of every circumstance surrounding this tragedy,” saad ng NBI. 

Kaya ipinaliwanag pa ng ahensya na mahalagang maintindihan ng publiko na ang finding na “no foul play” ay nangangahulugang walang senyales ng sadyang pananakit. 

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Ngunit iba pa ito sa posibleng kabayaan sa pagsasagawa ng naging team building activity, na sa ilalim ng Artikulo 365 ng Revised Penal Code, ang pagkasawi mula sa kapabayaan o kawalangang-ingat ay maituturing na isang krimen. 

“It is important for the public to understand what a finding of “no foul play” does and does not resolve. Such a finding speaks to the absence of intentional harm. It does not, by itself, answer a separate and equally consequential question under our laws: whether these deaths resulted from negligence in the conduct of the activity. Under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code, death caused by reckless or simple imprudence is a criminal matter wholly independent of any intent to harm. An event may be “accidental” in the sense that no one wished it, and yet remain the product of a failure to exercise the care the law demands,” paliwanag pa ng NBI. 

Anila pa, ang mga nagplano, nangasiwa, at nagsagawa ng naging team building ay may obligasyon sa pamilya ng student-athletes na dumalo rito.

Kaya isa na rin sa mga iniimbestigahang anggulo ng NBI sa kasalukuyan ay ang tamang assessment ng ADMU sa mga posibleng panganib sa lokasyon at kondisyon ng dagat; kung mayroong pagbabantay dito; at kung ang mga naging pagkasawi ay bunsod sa kapabayaan ng pamantasan. 

“Where an activity is organized and sanctioned by a school for its student-athletes, those who plan, supervise, and conduct it owe the participants the diligence of a good father of a family — the standard of ordinary care fixed by Articles 1173, 2176, and 2180 of the Civil Code. Among the angles now under examination is whether that standard was met: whether the hazards of the location and the condition of the sea were properly assessed, whether adequate safeguards and supervision were in place, and whether the chain of events that claimed these two lives reflects a breach of the duty owed to those entrusted to the institution’s care,” saad pa ng NBI. 

Kaya mariing binanggit ng NBI na ang kanilang imbestigasyon ay hindi apektado ng reputasyong pinanghahawakan ng ADMU o ng mga pamilya ng sinuman dito, dahil ang batas ay nakatindig sa tama at mga datos. 

Nilinaw din ng NBI na pagkakamali ang anumang pag-aakalang tunggalian sa pagitan ng prestihiyo at kahirapan ang proseso ng imbestigasyon sa pagkasawi ng dalawang manlalaro. 

“The Bureau wishes to be clear on one point. This inquiry is not directed at any institution because of its name, its standing, or its resources, and it is not pursued on behalf of any family because of theirs. The law fixes a single standard of care that binds every organizer of every activity, and it is measured against conduct and facts alone. A prestigious institution is neither shielded by its stature nor singled out because of it. Those who would cast this tragedy as a struggle between the privileged and the powerless mistake both the law and the purpose of this inquiry,” paglilinaw ng ahensya. 

Sa pagtatapos ng pahayag, tiniyak ng NBI na ipagpapatuloy nila ang imbestigasyon nang walang kinikilingang panig at nang may buong koordinasyon sa Philippine National Police (PNP). 

Panawagan nila sa publiko, iwasang pumanig sa mga haka-haka sa social media upang masiguradong manaig ang katotohanan bilang pagrespeto sa alaala ng mga nasawi. 

“We will proceed with objectivity, without prejudgment, and in full coordination with the Philippine National Police and the appropriate authorities. We ask the public to refrain from speculation that prejudices either the families or those who may become the subject of inquiry, and to allow the facts to be established with the care this loss deserves,” panawagan ng NBI.