Rovelyn Baterbonia has publicly dismissed the notion that her son, Rene, drowned by accident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. The 19-year-old was set to join the Ateneo de Manila University basketball team.
A Call for Accountability
My son’s death cannot be brought up in apologies... Why do you say that what happened to my son was just an accident? I don’t think it was just an accident.
Rovelyn Baterbonia, Mother of Rene Baterbonia
Baterbonia drowned on Monday, sparking an outpouring of grief from the university community. His mother expressed her frustrations in a Facebook post, revealing she has not received direct communication from head coach Tab Baldwin since the incident.
In a video statement, Baldwin accepted responsibility for what he termed a leadership failure, which contributed to the deaths of Baterbonia and another student-athlete, Divine Adili.
The incident raises questions about safety protocols during athletic activities, particularly in a country where school sports often involve significant risks. The Ateneo community is grappling with the loss, as they remember Baterbonia's contributions to the sport. Lawmakers are calling for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident.