Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called for stronger protections for student-athletes following the tragic drowning of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during an off-campus training activity.
Having played in the UAAP as a varsity athlete during his college years, Pangilinan said the incident struck a deeply personal chord and underscored long-standing concerns about athlete safety, duty of care, prevention, and institutional accountability.
In response to these concerns, Pangilinan on Monday filed Senate Bill No. 2268, or the Student-Athlete Safety, Welfare, and Protection Act, noting that significant gaps remain in the protection of student-athletes, particularly in high-risk sports and activities.
While investigations are still ongoing to determine the facts, this heartbreaking incident reminds us that protecting student-athletes cannot be an afterthought.
Current law lacks minimum safety standards, emergency preparedness requirements, clear protocols for reporting serious incidents and managing injuries, as well as adequate safeguards for student-athletes who report unsafe conditions or misconduct.
“While investigations are still ongoing to determine the facts, this heartbreaking incident reminds us that protecting student-athletes cannot be an afterthought. Every school and athletic institution has a duty of care. That is the principle behind our bill—to ensure that no young athlete is left without the safeguards, support, and protection they deserve,” Pangilinan said.
The bill establishes a comprehensive Bill of Rights for student-athletes, guaranteeing their right to safety, health, dignity, and education.
It mandates access to safe training environments, medical care, mental health support, protection from hazing, abuse, and retaliation, as well as the right to report unsafe conditions, receive academic accommodations during injury and recovery, and be fully informed of the risks and safety measures associated with school-sanctioned athletic activities.
The senator emphasized that athletic excellence must always be matched by meaningful safeguards and protections for athletes.
“Athletes are not robots built to endure everything. They are young people entrusted to our care, and protecting them should be non-negotiable,” Pangilinan said.
The tragedy serves as a painful reminder of long-standing concerns about the safety and welfare of student-athletes. While schools strive for excellence in sports, Pangilinan stressed that excellence must never come at the expense of safety—that athletic excellence requires athlete protection.
“Sa likod ng bawat medalya, rekord, at kampeonato ay isang kabataang may pangarap. Hindi sila mga makina. Hindi sila expendable. Mga tao silang ipinagkatiwala sa ating pangangalaga,” Pangilinan said.
“Anong saysay ng tagumpay kung makakamit ito kapalit ng kaligtasan ng ating mga atleta? Walang medalya, tropeo, o kampeonato ang hihigit sa isang buhay. Dapat laging mauna ang kapakanan, kalusugan, at kaligtasan ng ating mga student-athlete,” he added.
