AS INVESTIGATIONS into the deaths of Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team (AMBT) student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Chukwuemeka Divine Adili continue, government agencies, sports stakeholders, and members of the Ateneo community seek answers over the drowning incident in Aurora. Calls for accountability and justice, alongside stronger athlete safety measures, also continue to mount.
Authorities have launched inquiries into the deaths of the student-athletes, with the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation conducting separate probes to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following the tragedy, the remains of Baterbonia and Adili have been transferred to Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory in Quezon City, with Baterbonia’s remains set to return to Agusan del Sur by June 12.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to return Adili’s remains to Nigeria in accordance with his family’s wishes. Before this, Adili’s family also requested on June 10 for their son’s body to undergo an autopsy.
Amid these developments, Baterbonia’s family has publicly sought answers regarding the circumstances that led to the deaths, while members of the Ateneo community and the Sanggunian have called on the Ateneo administration to uphold transparency and provide support to the bereaved families.
Investigations begin
During a press conference on June 9, Aurora Police Provincial Office acting director Colonel Percival Pineda described the deaths as “purely accidental” drowning caused by strong currents, adding that investigators found no signs of foul play.
However, Pineda said that authorities have yet to determine if there was negligence or liability from the coaching staff, resort, or school administration.
Despite noting that lifeguards were on duty in the resort, Pineda mentioned that the AMBT reportedly went 300 meters away from the resort and “asked to be alone” for the team-building activity.
Pineda later confirmed that the cause of Batterbonia’s death was “asphyxia by drowning” based on the autopsy report released on June 10, while refuting claims that the victims had been wearing ankle weights at the time of the incident.
According to Pineda, initial investigations also indicated that four individuals from the team were swept into deeper waters by a strong current during the team-building activity. He added that two of the four individuals were rescued, yet Baterbonia and Adili went missing for a time period and were later declared dead. Pineda did not name the two other players involved.
Supporting the Aurora police’s efforts, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) formed a sports stakeholders’ panel together with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the University of Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), the National Youth Commission, and the Commission on Higher Education.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio emphasized that the panel is not an investigative body, but was created to deepen the public’s understanding of the incident and to recommend future safeguards. In view of this goal, the panel released two resolutions in a June 10 media briefing.
The first resolution called for the enactment of House Bill 2631, or the Sports Coaching Act, citing the importance of ensuring coaches are educated, trained, and held to standards that promote athlete safety.
In line with this, the panel’s second resolution sought to standardize safety protocols for athletic training programs, while announcing a partnership with Philippine Life Saving to expand water safety education, certification, and preparedness programs.
Family seeks answers
As developments regarding the incident persist, concerns have emerged regarding the University’s response in its aftermath.
Speaking to the media upon arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on June 9, Rene’s mother, Rovelyn Baterbonia, said the family continues to seek clarity from the University.
“Kung alam ko lang na may training sila [AMBT] na gan’yan, kahit mahirap kami, hindi ko ipapahamak ‘yung anak ko (If I had only known they [AMBT] had that kind of training, even though we are poor, I would never have put my child in harm’s way),” she emphasized.
Moreover, during a press conference on June 10, Rovelyn disclosed that University officials visited Baterbonia’s wake at Arlington Memorial Chapels to offer their condolences and apologize to the family, describing the incident as an accident.
Rovelyn, however, challenged the characterization of the incident as an accident, arguing that lapses in safety protocols contributed to the tragedy. She also questioned the alleged absence of trained rescuers at the site, claiming she was informed that only a first-aid medic had been present.
“Sinabi nila na aksidente lang daw, and then humingi din sila ng sorry sa akin, pero ‘yun, sabi ko, […] hindi na mabubuhay ‘yung anak ko sa sorry niyo (They said it was just an accident and apologized to me, but I told them that their apology cannot bring my son back to life),” she expressed.
The family also raised concerns on what they described as bruises on Rene’s neck, back, hands, and feet, leading them to suspect the possibility of alleged foul play. Their observations contrast with initial police findings, which reportedly indicated that no visible bruises were found on the body.
Calls for accountability
These unresolved questions have further fueled calls for transparency and institutional accountability, both from within and from beyond the Ateneo community. While the Ateneo management expressed willingness to join discussions in PSC-led meetings, the panel shared that the University is currently requesting privacy.
Sentiments from within the Ateneo community have also surfaced, with the Sanggunian extending condolences to Baterbonia and Adili’s loved ones while urging the University to “ensure that the circumstances surrounding this tragedy are met with integrity and accountability through an exhaustive investigation.”
The League of Filipino Students-Katipunan also organized a candle-lighting vigil on June 10 at Gate 2.5 of the Loyola Heights campus to remember the lives of Baterbonia and Adili and call for transparency.
The Sanggunian likewise invited members of the community to wear black on June 11 to show solidarity in the continued pursuit of clarity.
In line with these calls for accountability, the Department of Labor and Employment issued a show cause order for AMBT Head Coach Tab Baldwin to appear before the agency on June 15, where he is called to present proof of his Alien Employment Permit due to his American–New Zealand nationality.
Furthermore, the Department of Interior and Local Government announced that they have subpoenaed the coaches and players present during the team-building activity as “part of fact-finding efforts, including the examination of possible violations of Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.”
As of writing, Baldwin has yet to reach out to the families of the bereaved, with Rovelyn sharing during the press conference that she is not yet ready to face the head coach and intends to focus on her son in the meantime.
Meanwhile, the management of the Arlington Memorial Chapels noted that the Ateneo representatives left the premises after the visit, on June 10 as they were “not ready to face the media.”
The University has since released a statement saying that Baldwin and Team Manager Christopher Quimpo have gone on leave for the duration of the inquiry as a way to “preserve the total integrity, independence, and fairness of this investigation.”
Concrete actions regarding any sanctions and suspensions have also yet to be decided based on the results of the investigations. UAAP Executive Director Atty. Rebo Saguisag added during the June 10 briefing that the association would determine its next steps based on the gathered evidence.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story.
