MANILA (UPDATED) - The mother of 19-year-old Rene Baterbonia expressed frustration over the lack of communication from Ateneo de Manila University regarding the death of her son.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Rovelyn Baterbonia said she did not receive any detailed information after her son died during an Ateneo Blue Eagles team-building activity in Aurora.
"Thirty minutes 'yung naahon ang anak ko. Nabalitaan nila, ako one hour pa. 4:30 'yung pagtawag nila sa akin. Yung nagtawag, messenger lang, 'di ko naano ang pangalan kasi ang dami nang-message," recalled Rovelyn.
"Sabi lang sa akin 'Ako po, si coach po,' ang sabi sa akin, 'Ang anak nyo si Rene, naaksidente po siya, nalunod,' Sabi ko 'Ba't naman ganoon?'"
She was not given updates, she added.
"Mula noon, wala nang balita sa akin. Wala nang info sa akin, 'di na nagbalita na 'Ma'am ang anak mo nandoon na sa ospital, ma'am yung anak mo wala na talaga,'" said Rovelyn.
'"Yan ang tinanong ko sa kanila, ba't hindi nakipag communicate."
DETAILS
Rovelyn said that they were eventually given details on Wednesday regarding on what transpired on that fateful day.
"May chat sa amin kanina... mayroon sa nangyari," she said. "Sabi nila nila hindi totoo yung kumakalat sa social media. Yung time, na (nagtrain sila doon), wala daw weights na nilagay dito (wrists), sabi niya."
"Aksidente lang daw talaga yung nangyari. Sinabi ko lang sa kanila na, 'Aksidente 'yung nangyari dahil sa kakulangan nyo. Kasi nagpunta kayo doon wala kayong rescuer."
Rovelyn said she was told that during training the players were made to run in sea water.
"Sabi nila dito daw ang dagat sa hita, magtakbo daw sila, nung sinabi daw na mag-go na bigla na lang daw pumunta yung alon sa kanila," she narrated.
"Lahat daw sila doon, sumabay daw daw (sa tubig), yung iba nakaahon na... and then tinignan daw nila ang sino walang nakaahon, tapos pagtapos naano nila na kulang. Ang unang nakuha yung anak ko si Rene, at saka pangalawa daw yung isa."
Rovelyn said she was told there was a medic assigned, who could only give first aid.
The beach where the training took place is 20-30 away from the nearest hospital, she added.
"Then 30-20 minutes dito sa beach hanggang patungo sa ospital. Siyempre malayo na. Then sinabi nila may mga coach naman daw para magtulong sila, pero hindi na raw narescue talaga, aksidente talaga.
When asked if she is poised to file a case against the team coaches, she said she is still busy witht he burial details of her son.
"Sa ngayon hindi ko pa iniisip (magsampa ng kaso), iniisip ko muna yung maplastar kung anong lugar sa Agusan o sa Davao," said Rovelyn.
The younger Baterbonia, who hailed from Agusan del Sur, pursued his studies in Davao City and represented the Davao Eagles (Ateneo de Davao University) in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, where the team won the secondary boys’ basketball championship.
He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) last year. Just over a week ago, during this year’s Palarong Pambansa, he helped his team secure the silver medal in basketball.
He died together with Ateneo sophomore Divine Adili during the drowning incident on Monday.