Questions of possible foul play have emerged over the death of Rene Baterbonia, a member of the Ateneo Blue Eagles men’s basketball team, who drowned during boot camp training in Dipaculao, Aurora. His mother, Rovelyn Baterbonia, vowed to pursue an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
Arriving in Manila from Davao, Rovelyn tearfully asked why her son was made to swim in the sea allegedly with a 20‑kilogram weight strapped to him, and why no one came to his rescue.
“Bakit ang dami nila roon, walang nag-rescue? Bakit nila pinalangoy ang anak ko na may nakakabit na 20 kilos ang bigat?” she said in a media interview.
When pressed if she suspected foul play, she replied: “Talaga kasi ang anak ko ang daming pasa. Saan na ba galing ang pasa?” She added: “Talagang magpaimbestiga ako. Kung sino ang gustong tumulong, magpatulong ako.”
The grieving mother also expressed disappointment at Ateneo de Manila University for failing to formally notify her of her son’s death and for not sending any representative to accompany his remains from Aurora to Manila.
“Biniyahe nila ang anak ko, hindi man lang nila binihisan. Walang damit, yung shorts basa. Walang staff sa Ateneo na sumama, trabahante lang ng punerarya,” Rovelyn said.
“Wala silang sinabi sa akin kahit na ano. Post lang nila na wala na ang anak ko,” she added, lamenting the lack of communication from the university. # (RRN)
