PNP Aurora says no foul play seen at this time in drowning incident of Ateneo's Baterbonia, Adili

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Aurora Provincial Office said that there were no findings of foul play at this time with regards to the tragic death of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In a press conference Tuesday, PNP Aurora called the drowning incident involving the two young basketball players on Monday afternoon in Dipaculao, Aurora "purely accident".

READ MORE | Ateneo recruit Rene Baterbonia, foreign student athlete Divine Adili die in drowning incident

“‘Yung pamunuan po ng Aurora PPO ay lubos po na nalulungkot sa trahedya na nangyari sa aming probinsya. At siyempre po ang aming pakikiramay sa mga kaibigan, kakilala, at mga kapamilya ng mga nasawing players,” Aurora PPO director Percival Pineda said.

"Base po sa salaysay ng mga nakausap natin na kasama nila ay meron po silang activity na kung saan lumalakad po ang mga players sa tabing dagat, hanggang hita po 'yung lalim ng tubig. At bigla na lang po silang napunta sa malalim na parte."

(The leadership of the Aurora PPO is deeply saddened by the tragedy that happened in our province. And of course, we express our condolences to the friends and family of the players who passed.... Based on the account of the people they were with that we spoke to, they had an activity where the players were walking on the beach, with the water up to their thighs. And suddenly they found themselves in the deep part.)

Pineda narrated that the incident happened at around 2:40 p.m. in front of a private resort where the Ateneo Blue Eagles were holding a training camp in preparation for UAAP Season 89, where Baterbonia is set to start his collegiate journey and Adili is expected to play his sophomore year.

Pineda shared that Baterbonia and Adili quickly received initial medical response while the PNP responded immediately after receiving the call. Unfortunately, both players passed.

"So base po sa ating nakuhang salaysay sa mga kasama niya, ito pong insidente na ito ay talaga pong purely accident. Natural accident po 'yung pangyayari. Hindi po talaga inaasahan," Pineda added.

"Sa ngayon, wala po tayong nakikitang foul play sa aksidente na ito."

(Based on the account of the people they were with, this incident is really purely an accident. What happened was a natural accident. This was not expected.... We do not see any foul play in this accident at this time.)

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News