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Ateneo de Manila University president Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Yap arrived at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office Wednesday morning as the investigation into the deaths of their 2 student-athletes continues. Karen de Guzman, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA (UPDATE) — Ateneo de Manila University President Fr. Roberto Yap on Friday repeatedly apologized to the families of Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili and vowed to support them for “several years.”
Baterbonia and Adili drowned during a team-building activity in Aurora earlier this month.
“We have condoled with them, we have apologized, we continue to condole with them, we continue to apologize. And we have offered and have given support and assistance to them, and we will continue to do so over several years,” Yap said.
Yap is the last individual subpoenaed by the NBI on Friday, June 26, after its two-week investigation. He also submitted the records and documents related to the training to the NBI Homicide Division.
After the inquiry, he refused to answer any questions from the media.
“I would not like to make any more comments because I'd really like to respect the privacy of those conversations, the privacy of what we said. And this is, you cannot imagine, I cannot imagine the grief of Mrs. Baterbonia, Mr. Baterbonia. I cannot imagine the grief of Mr. Adili and Mrs. Adili,” Yap added.
Yap also announced Divine’s funeral in Nigeria is scheduled today, June 26.
Meanwhile, NBI director Melvin Matibag on Thursday said Yap’s testimony will determine if the bureau will conclude its investigation or call for more witnesses.
“If by (Friday), pagtapos mag-appear ng presidente ng Ateneo, si Father Yap, we feel na hindi naman kailangan magtawag pa ng iba to have our conclusion, again based on the investigation and the procedure namin, hindi na kami tatawag ng iba pa.”
Matibag also assured the victims’ families that the outcome of the investigation will be fair.
“We will be fair, we will be professional dito kung ano at saan tayo dadalhin ng mga ebidensya, doon natin dadalhin yan. At the of the day, we will have our findings and it will be the DOJ who will make an assessment kung ano yung, if there's criminal liability, sila yung magbibigay ng tamang direction dyan.”
Matibag however denied to give partial findings on their investigation including how many are they considering liable.
“I cannot say that hanggang di namin matapos. I don't want to make an initial or partial statement regarding the matter. Medyo sensitive. Sabi niyo nga, yung nanay talagang emotional. And I can sympathize with the mother. Naintindihan ko yan,” Matibag added.
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