UAAP reiterated it's ready to impose sanctions on Ateneo upon the completion of the investigation on the doomed team building which cost the lives of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Committing itself to truth, justice, and accountability, the league stressed it is "closely following all developments surrounding this tragic incident and carefully reviewing the findings of the ongoing investigations as they come."
Though there are still no final findings on what really happened during the Blue Eagles' tragic trip to Dipaculao, Aurora, the UAAP stated it's ready to impose sanctions "in cases where there are breaches of established protocols, laws, and regulations, provided these sanctions are established through due process and in accordance with governance and disciplinary procedures."
It also vowed to review - and if necessary, revise - its existing rules and policies to "further strengthen accountability, enhance student-athlete welfare, and uphold the highest standards of safety."
The past
Though it remains non-committal on steps it would take on Ateneo and soon-to-resign Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, the UAAP hasn't shied away from dropping the hammer in the past.
Aldin Ayo was the last coach to be slapped with an indefinite ban by the league in the fallout of his infamous Sorsogon bubble at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
The then-University of Santo Tomas mentor was prohibited from holding any post in all eight-member schools for "endangering the health and well-being of the student athletes under his charge."
Even before the ban, Ayo stepped down from his post with the Growling Tigers.
The whole La Salle athletic program was also suspended back in 2006 for "negligence" after two of its players in Mark Benitez and Tim Gatchalian, were found to have used spurious documents and fake academic records.
The two were able to play for three seasons before the controversy and the Green Archers served their ban in Season 69.
Adamson also dealt with the same ordeal back in 1994 after Marlou Aquino, who had academic deficiencies, was still fielded to play.
The Soaring Falcons served their year-long suspension in Season 57.
The future
Ateneo remains evasive on the situation, being limited to statements, as well as a short video message from Baldwin posted on its social media pages.
Also on Sunday, the Blue Eagles withdrew from participating in the 19th Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup.
READ: Ateneo pulls out of Filoil in wake of Baterbonia-Adili tragedy
The UAAP, for its part, is taking a cautious approach, as it continues to work with relevant agencies before moving forward with its own decisions.
"As previously stated, the UAAP will fully take into account the findings of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police–Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the concerned member school, as only limited details have been officially confirmed," it said.
"We urge all concerned agencies to conduct a speedy and thorough investigation in order to put all speculations to rest."
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