Rene Baterbonia’s mom demands answers after son’s death in Ateneo team building

MANILA, Philippines – The mother of deceased Ateneo player Rene Baterbonia demands answers as to why her son died during the Blue Eagles’ team building at a private resort in Dipaculao, Aurora. 

Baterbonia and teammate Divine Adili drowned on Monday, June 8, while taking part in a team activity in the sea — the two swept away by strong currents, based on initial findings by the Aurora Police Provincial Office (PPO). 

“Why were they in the sea when my son’s sport is basketball and not swimming?” an emotional Rovelyn Baterbonia told GMA News and News5 in Filipino shortly after arriving in Manila from Davao City on Tuesday, June 9, together with her husband and other son. “It hurts. I’ve supported him so much from childhood until now, and then they just did this to him.”

“If only I had known that there would be a training like that, even though we’re poor, I would have never allowed my son to be put in danger. I really want justice for what happened and to know why this happened to my son.” 

The tragedy happened just less than a week since Rene, a pride of Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, who starred for the Ateneo de Davao high school basketball team, moved to the Ateneo de Manila University campus in Katipunan, Quezon City, last Thursday, June 4.

A star in Mindanao, Rene was fresh from a homecoming in the Palarong Pambansa hosted by Agusan del Sur, where he helped Davao Region capture the silver medal as they fell short in defending their 2025 title against Calabarzon.

Rovelyn even sent off Rene and gave his 19-year-old son a warm embrace before he flew to Manila. 

A few days after, Rovelyn received a text message from Rene informing her that he would be away from his phone for a week because of the Blue Eagles’ team building in Aurora. She told him to mag-amping (take care). 

Looking back, Rovelyn said she and Rene would have made a more informed decision had they known about the activities the Aurora trip entailed. 

“They never really told us that there would be that kind of training. If they had told us from the start, I would have asked my child, ‘Can you handle that?’ so that we could make a decision together. I don’t understand why this happened,” said Rovelyn. 

“My son’s dreams lasted only a moment. They destroyed them.” 

Rovelyn hopes for a thorough investigation and for those responsible to be held accountable. 

“The only thing I want now is an investigation. To anyone who wants to help, I’m asking for help,” said Rovelyn. 

“I just want to know, why did this happen? It took them so long to find him. There were many of them and yet they couldn’t rescue him. Why did they go there without any rescue team, without a medic? I have so many questions that still haven’t been answered.” 

Ateneo said in a statement that the remains of Baterbonia and Adili were transferred from the Aurora Memorial Hospital to Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory in Quezon City on Tuesday morning. 

From the airport, Baterbonia’s parents and brother proceeded to Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory, where they were met and consoled by Ateneo university president Fr. Roberto Yap.

“Fr. Bobby spent time with the family, joined them in prayer, and blessed Rene’s remains as the University continued to accompany them in their grief,” Ateneo said in a statement on Tuesday. 

While speculations on the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili have surfaced on social media, the Aurora PPO have found no indication of foul play. Police also asked the public to refrain from sharing unverified information “for the families’ peace.”

Police Colonel Percival Pineda, the acting Provincial Director of Aurora PPO, said in a press conference on Tuesday that the Blue Eagles have held similar activities at the same Aurora resort for years.

The Philippine Sports Commission also said on Tuesday that it would investigate the tragic incident and formed a multi-stakeholder body that includes the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP), the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the National Youth Commission (NYC).  

Aside from its fact-finding task, the panel will “examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices toward resolutions to strengthen safeguards in athletic training environments.” – Rappler.com