AMID the calls for accountability in the wake of the deaths of Ateneo players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, UAAP executive director Rebo Saguisag insists the league is not yet at the point of taking action.
Simply put, there is "nothing to suspend" for now, he said.
READ: Panel bats for regulation of coaching profession after Ateneo deaths
Saguisag pointed out that the UAAP basketball season has yet to begin, making any discussion of preventive suspension towards any team or any individual premature while multiple investigations continue into the tragedy that struck the Blue Eagles during a team-building activity in Aurora.
“As for preventive suspension, I know this may sound [cliche], but technically there is nothing to suspend immediately at this point. Right now, basketball season has not started, so there's nothing to suspend initially,” Saguisag said.
“So whatever preventive suspension may be considered, I don't know whether or not the institution involved will do that. If it happens, it would be based on their prerogative. As far as we're concerned, the season, the basketball season for that matter, has not begun.”
Saguisag spoke after participating in the organizational meeting of the independent inter-agency sports stakeholders panel tasked to look into the incident.
The body is composed of representatives from the UAAP, Philippine Sports Commission, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, and National Youth Commission.
While the league has already held preliminary discussions internally, Saguisag said the decision was made to coordinate closely with the panel's work and refrain from taking any pre-emptive action while the fact-finding process remains ongoing.
“Just like any other case, of course, this is a very tragic incident. But first and foremost, the families have requested privacy and space, and that's very important,” he said.
“Something tragic happened, but I don't think it's prudent right now to rush into anything. Besides, initially, the first line of action is really through the representatives to hear their side. May protocol.”
Rather than speculate or rush to conclusions, Saguisag stressed that the UAAP intends to allow the evidence to dictate its next steps.
“We go where the evidence leads. We are now in the process of gathering information and awaiting official reports that are undergoing [review],” he said.
The findings of those investigations, he added, will ultimately determine whether any action is warranted from the league.
“Kapag hindi ma-settle, that's the time when we take action. But for now, because of the sensitivity of the issue and the requested space, the UAAP is focusing internally on organizational matters, if possible, while also aligning with the PSC, its efforts, all our resources, and our collective minds. Hopefully, we can have a just solution to this very tragic incident.”
Saguisag also revealed how careful the panel was during its initial deliberations, emphasizing that key stakeholders and expert findings have yet to be presented.
“Even kanina, we were very careful when organizing. Ano ba pwede nating gawin? Wala pa experts dito at wala pa Ateneo. Kaya we can’t pass on judgement this early,” he said.
“Not to trivialize what happened, but again, due process states that everyone should be heard. And the expertise of each agency shall be considered.”
The tragedy involving Baterbonia and Adili is the latest painful chapter for the UAAP community, following the deaths of National University women's basketball player Ashlyn Abong in 2023 and University of the Philippines men's basketball player Israel Friday in 2022.
Those incidents, while occurring under different circumstances, have collectively heightened concerns over athlete welfare and safety across collegiate sports.
For Saguisag, however, the immediate priority remains establishing the facts.
Only then, he said, can the UAAP determine whether there is ultimately something to suspend after all.
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