MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has called for stronger protections for student-athletes following the drowning of Ateneo students Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili during an off-campus training activity.

Pangilinan, who previously played in the UAAP as a varsity athlete during his college years, said the incident highlighted long-standing concerns over athlete safety, institutional responsibility, and accountability in school sports programs.

In response, he filed Senate Bill No. 2268 or the Student-Athlete Safety, Welfare, and Protection Act, citing gaps in existing safeguards for student-athletes, particularly in high-risk sports and training activities.

According to Pangilinan, current policies lack minimum safety standards, emergency preparedness protocols, clear reporting mechanisms for serious incidents, and sufficient protections for athletes who raise concerns about 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 proposed measure seeks to establish a Bill of Rights for student-athletes, guaranteeing their right to safety, health, dignity, and education.

It also mandates access to safe training environments, medical and mental health support, protection from hazing, abuse, and retaliation, and the right to report unsafe conditions. It further provides academic accommodations for injured athletes and requires full disclosure of risks and safety measures in school-sanctioned sports activities.

Pangilinan stressed that athletic achievement must always be accompanied by adequate safeguards for participants.

“Athletes are not robots built to endure everything. They are young people entrusted to our care, and protecting them should be non-negotiable,” he said.

He also emphasized that excellence in sports should never come at the cost of safety.

“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.