Rene Baterbonia’s mom on son’s death: I want justice

The mother of Ateneo high school basketball player Rene Baterbonia is seeking justice and answers following her son’s death during a team-building activity, questioning why the athletes were made to enter the sea without rescue personnel or medical responders on site.

In an interview with GMA News at NAIA Terminal 2, Rovelyn Baterbonia said she could not understand why her son, a basketball player, was brought into the water during the training.

“Malaki talaga ang tanong ko, ba’t napunta doon sa dagat? Kasi basketball naman yung anak ko, hindi naman swimming,” she said.

Baterbonia and Divine Adili, Ateneo de Manila University’s incoming student-athletes, were involved in a drowning incident while having a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday, June 8.

The mother questioned reports that the athletes were carrying heavy weights during the activity.

“Kaya ngayon gusto ko ng justice talaga kung anong nangyari,” the deceased player’s mom said. “Alam naman nila mabigat yung [nilalagay] nila sa paa or sa kamay. Tapos pina-ano pa nila sa dagat? Hindi na ba sila naawa?”.

She said the family was not informed during orientation that the training would involve such activities.

“Kung sinabi pa lang nila (the school), matanong ko na sa anak ko, ‘kaya mo ba ‘yun?’ Para ma-desisyonan namin,” Rovelyn said.

She added that her son informed her before the training that the athletes would temporarily surrender their cellphones.

“Sabi niya, ‘Ma, one week siguro wala akong cellphone, kasi may training kami doon sa Baler’, tapos sabi niya, hindi pwede daw mag-cellphone.” she said.

“Sabi ko, ‘sige nak, please pag-amping’ (mag-ingat ka).”

Baterbonia said she only saw a photograph of her son through relatives and social media posts and was not immediately provided official confirmation regarding his condition.

She also claimed that no staff member accompanied relatives who went to retrieve her son’s remains.

Asked whether anyone had reached out to the family, Baterbonia said she had yet to personally meet with those involved.

For now, she said she wants answers about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.

A standout performer for Davao in the Palarong Pambansa 2026, Baterbonia at 19, manned his team to a silver-medal finish and was named MVP. 

He was expected to make his debut with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 89.