This! This is where the public outrage is coming from. Wala man lang preventive suspension from the side of Ateneo para sa buong coaching staff nila!
Kapag ordinaryong tao, kulong agad as part of protocol. Pag mayayaman, asking for privacy?
My goodness!
GRETCHEN HO: SILENCE FUELS SPECULATION 🗣️
“As a former student-athlete of Ateneo, this tragedy hits very close to home. It is, deeply painful.
There are legitimate questions about what happened, and I trust that the multi-stakeholder body formed by the PSC, together with representatives from the UAAP, SBP, CHED, and NYC, will establish the facts and present them to the public at the appropriate time.
Understandably, people are still in a state of shock, and we should allow them this space to grieve and find their footing. However, silence will only allow speculation and false narratives to thrive. We trust that the institution we call home will do the right thing.”
- Gretchen Ho, Former Ateneo Lady Eagle
This is so heartbreaking. I can't even. Praying for strength for the mom and his loved ones, and also for justice to happen the soonest. My take: Of course, somebody has to take responsibility for their deaths. Even if it were an accident, due diligence was clearly lacking. Magtratraining in the open sea na uncontrolled setting, then there's the lack of full disclosure and transparency, and inadequate safety measures. Why did ADMU even sanction this kind of sports program na high-risk tapos there's a veil of secrecy surrounding it?
@andietagz The management of Arlington said the Ateneo representatives have left the building, saying that they were not yet ready to face the media. | via @andietagz
@ABSCBNNews@andietagz Nothing can assuage the pain & the heartache of the grieving mother. ADMU handled the matter poorly from the very start. How hard was it to send an official rep to deliver the sad news? How hard would it have been to provide transport, accompany her & lend her solace & support?
@andietagz The management of Arlington said the Ateneo representatives have left the building, saying that they were not yet ready to face the media. | via @andietagz
Makes you wonder--if Rene Baterbonia came from an elite rich family, would Ateneo take the same stance of silence and obfuscation it is so intent on keeping now?
Loss of life (young life at that) brought about by avoidable circumstances that the victims were exposed to by authority figures that were supposed to care and nurture them - is a tragedy that requires accountability. No it won’t bring back Divine and Rene, but we cannot allow people in power to be protected when their authority and status were wielded to put young men in precarious situations that took their lives. There’s anecdotes on record of precedent, there’s a grieving mother asking for the most basic details amid official statements saying they are ‘working closely’ with the families.
Investigate this to the fullest. Basketball is by no means more important than protecting our young people, most especially those who come from backgrounds that force them and their families to look at a roster spot, game minutes, a coaching staff’s favor and approval - as tickets to a better life.
Pay close attention to who says what, if anything at all. If you’re not enraged by the avoidable accident that took the lives of two young men, if your instinct is to protect an institution’s reputation over condemning those responosible for two boys dying, if you would rather be silent because you’re worried about relationships or your place in the industry, then you’re part of the problem.
This was avoidable. This was negligent. It’s only basketball, ffs. There are people responsible. Hold them accountable.