Robin Padilla: Rene Baterbonia film project moving ahead amid 'pressures'

Senator Robinhood Padilla on Saturday said preparations for a film about the life of late Ateneo basketball player Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia are moving forward despite what he described as financial pressure and the supposed politicization of the entertainment industry.

In a Facebook post, Padilla said her sister, director BB Gandanghari and filmmakers from Mindanao were “all set” to proceed with the project.

"Kahit ginigipit na po tayo kahit sa usaping pinansyal ng mga mapaniil na mga nagsasabing sila ay matitinong tao at pati mundo ng industriya ng entertainment ay kanilang pinupolitika," he said.

(Even as we are being financially pressured by oppressive individuals who claim to be decent people, and who are also politicizing the entertainment industry.)

He did not identify the individuals or provide details about the alleged financial pressure.

“Hindi po tayo bumibitaw sa paglalahad sa pamamagitan ng pelikula ang buhay ni Rene Baterbonia,” Padilla said.

(We will not give up on telling Rene Baterbonia’s life story through a film.)

The planned film would tell the story of Baterbonia, an 18-year-old basketball player from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, whose promising career was cut short by a drowning incident in Dipaculao, Aurora, in June.

Baterbonia and fellow Ateneo de Manila University men's basketball player Divine Adili, 21, died during a team-building activity of the Blue Eagles on June 8.

Police later said Baterbonia's cause of death was asphyxia by drowning based on a post-mortem examination.

Before joining Ateneo de Manila, Baterbonia emerged as one of the top young basketball prospects in Mindanao.

He represented the Davao Region in the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, where the team won the boys' basketball gold medal and Baterbonia was named Most Valuable Player.

He was also part of the Philippine delegation that won gold in basketball at the 2025 ASEAN School Games in Brunei.

Baterbonia was preparing to play for the Ateneo Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 89 when he died.

Gandanghari, Padilla's sibling, had earlier signaled plans for a film based on Baterbonia's life.

In July, she posted about a casting search for actors who would portray Baterbonia and his parents, Rovelyn and Rene.

Gandanghari also said she had visited and assisted Baterbonia's family following his death. She previously explained that Padilla was the one who brought the family's situation to her attention. — MCG, GMA News