Grieving Baterbonia mom airs frustration over info gap, spread

Rene Baterbonia was one of the top high school prospects in the 2026 class. He was set to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 89.–Photo from Rene Baterbonia’s Instagram

MANILA, Philippines—The mother of former Ateneo de Davao standout Rene Baterbonia expressed grief and frustration on social media following her son’s death in a drowning incident during an Ateneo team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili died during the trip on Monday, according to Ateneo. In several Facebook posts, Rovelyn Baterbonia mourned the loss of her son and questioned the information provided to the family following the incident.

“Wherever we go, we will carry memories of you that no amount of money can ever replace,” she wrote in Filipino. “I still hope that when your father and I arrive, you’ll wake up and begin a second chapter of your life, son.”

READ: Ateneo players ‘were swimming when carried by strong current’ – police

Rovelyn also said she had yet to personally see her son’s remains when news of his death began circulating online.

“I still haven’t seen my son’s body,” she posted. “No one has shown me a photo or any proof that he is really gone. We were never asked for permission before information was shared publicly. Up to now, we still have not been told exactly what happened or where my son is.”

She also shared a clip from a previous episode of the “Balyahan Podcast” featuring former Ateneo player Mike Nieto, who discussed the Blue Eagles’ offseason bootcamp, a program designed to develop players physically and mentally.

Rovelyn said she was unaware her son would be participating in a similar activity.

READ: CIDG probing drowning of Ateneo’s Baterbonia, Adili

“If they had told us about this kind of training, I would never have allowed my son to go,” she wrote. “We were not informed about it. Where is my son now?”

Local police have released initial findings, citing that Adili and Baterbonia where dragged underwater by a strong current. Law enforcement in Aurora has said it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning further.

Baterbonia was a key player for Ateneo de Davao and had been expected to join the Blue Eagles for UAAP Season 89.

According to his mother, he had arrived in Manila only a few days before the incident.