UAAP Bans Ateneo Coaching Staff After Aurora Tragedy

Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili

UAAP Bans Ateneo Coaching Staff After Aurora Tragedy

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | June 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – In a decisive move underscoring its commitment to athlete welfare and accountability, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) has issued a ban on all Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) coaching staff present during the tragic drowning deaths of Ateneo de Manila University basketball center Divine Adili and incoming rookie Rene Baterbonia. The incident, which occurred on June 8 during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, has resulted in this prohibition from all UAAP-related activities, effective June 19, and it remains in force pending the outcomes of multiple investigations.

The UAAP Board of Trustees, acting on a strong recommendation from the Board of Managing Directors, formalized this critical decision. The league’s statement highlights a multi-faceted investigative approach, encompassing inquiries from concerned government agencies, Ateneo’s independent fact-finding committee, and the UAAP’s own internal probe.

“This ban ensures a transparent and fair investigation while critical facts are being gathered,” the UAAP stated, emphasizing its dedication to due process and objective evaluation amidst “differing and clashing perceptions” surrounding the tragedy.

A strict July 15 deadline has been set for the submission of all official investigative findings. The UAAP further reiterated its stance on accountability, asserting, “All those found responsible for any wrongdoing shall be held fully accountable under league regulations.” The actions of ADMU and the involved individuals will undergo scrutiny by the other seven member schools—Adamson University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, National University, University of the East, University of the Philippines, and University of Santo Tomas—before any final judgment.

Earlier pronouncements from the UAAP indicated a deferral of sanctions against Ateneo until official investigation results were available. The league has consistently affirmed its intention to “fully take into account” findings from parallel investigations conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in addition to ADMU’s internal inquiry.

Upon completion of these probes, the UAAP will transmit all findings to its member schools for a fair review.

The league concluded its statement by extending sympathies to the bereaved, calling for “justice, truth, and dignity for those who lost their lives.” The UAAP pledged to honor their memories by intensifying efforts to protect student-athletes, ensuring that such a tragedy “will never happen again.”

The impending UAAP Season 89 is set to commence this September. While the UAAP initiates its ban, Ateneo President Fr. Bobby Yap recently stated that the university has “yet to make a decision” regarding its participation in the upcoming season.

The CIDG has previously noted “inconsistencies” in statements and potential hazing violations, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigations.

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