On the same day Ateneo de Manila University celebrated its graduating seniors, students turned the campus into a stage for protest.

They wore black bands on their right wrists. They walked out of commencement. They chanted, “Hustisya para kay Rene at Divine!”

That was June 19 — also the 165th birth anniversary of Jose Rizal, the school’s most famous alumnus. But for many, it became a day of mourning and accountability.

The anger stems from June 8, when student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili drowned during a team-building activity. Baterbonia was an incoming freshman. Adili was a current student.

During the morning commencement, the Ateneo Seniors’ Alliance had called on graduates to wear black bands “as we stand with the families of Rene and Divine and carry their calls for justice, accountability, and the truth onto the stage.”

By afternoon, the university student government — the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila — led a walkout. Students gathered at Kostka Hall at 1 pm, then marched through classrooms and walkways, urging others to join them at the Zen Garden.

There, a table held candles, handwritten prayers, a memorial tarpaulin, and photos of the two young men.

“Today is a day of reckoning for the Ateneo de Manila,” said former Sanggunian president Annika Torres in her opening speech. She called for “a renewal of our institution” and demanded accountability, calling out what she described as neglect and silence after the deaths.

Lorelie Potencio, a School of Humanities representative, read a message from Diego Avila, a friend and blockmate of Adili. Avila described Adili as compassionate, warm, and committed. He said Adili loved the show SpongeBob SquarePants because he related to the main character. The memorial included an illustration of Adili with SpongeBob and Patrick.

“Dee was more than just a classmate. He was like a brother — more specifically, a kuya figure to us,” Avila shared.

No personal stories were told about Baterbonia since he hadn't yet enrolled, but students remembered him as one of their own.

Ron Cruz, a faculty member from the Department of Biology, also spoke. “This is no longer the Ateneo I learned to love, in many ways,” he said, expressing solidarity with students and their call for genuine healing.

Zen Borja, co-chair of the Ateneo Seniors’ Alliance, addressed the crowd:

“Narito kami ngayon hindi para sirain ang pagtatapos, hindi para burahin ang saya ng aming mga pamilya, hindi para malimutan ang apat na taon na minahal namin ang Ateneo.”

Borja said loving the school means holding it accountable. He demanded:

  • A free and meaningful investigation
  • Full accountability instead of press releases
  • Continuous support for the families of Baterbonia and Adili
  • Widespread reforms for students and student-athletes

Sanggunian president Jedryc Romero said the community wants to see names and faces held responsible. He noted that his call during a town hall for the resignation of an official resonated because people want individuals to be accountable.

Cruz summed up the mood: “You may think it’s weird that we’re doing this on the same day as graduation, but actually, just as we celebrate the achievements of our graduating students, that makes us remember the things that we love about this school, the things that we value.”

The university hasn't yet issued a detailed response to the students’ demands. The families of Baterbonia and Adili continue to seek answers.