Baterbonia's relative, friends sought Torreon's help, law firm says

The Law Firm of Torreon and Partners on Friday denied that it was commissioned by Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. to represent the family of late Ateneo student-athlete Rene Baterbonia, who drowned during a team activity in Dipaculao, Aurora earlier this week.

According to the firm, lawyer Israelito Torreon was approached by the family’s relative and Baterbonia’s close friends for help.

“Governor Santiago Cane Jr. did not hire or commission us. What he did, and for which we are grateful, was to convey to the Baterbonia family that counsel was willing to assist them,” it said.

“It is understandable that the family may have received that communication as an arrangement by the Governor. It was not. It was an act of kindness by someone who wanted a grieving family to know that help was available,” it said.

On Thursday, Cane said he does not know Torreon and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc. He said Torreon told him that he was willing to render his services, but Cane did not tell him that he will arrange with the family.

Cane also said he does not know how Bondoc “came into the picture.”

Meanwhile, the law firm said it has been working around the clock for the family since the incident.

The firm also urged others to come forward if they want to help, stating that it was not a competition.

“We all want the same thing, answers, accountability, and justice for Rene and even for Divine Adili. The family deserves every resource, every voice, and every capable hand that can be offered to them. Why must it be one and not the other? Let us focus on what matters,” it said.

Earlier on Thursday, Torreon said the Department of Justice has received their request for an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order on Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin.

Baldwin is currently on leave, along with team manager Epok Quimpo as the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) conducts its own inquiry on the death of Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili.

In a statement on Thursday, Ateneo said it had requested Baldwin to “refrain from making public statements to allow the official processes to proceed and the facts to be established before any public discussion of the matter.”

“In the immediate aftermath of this heartbreaking loss, our guidance to Coach Baldwin was to focus his attention on the emotional and psychological welfare of the players, coaches, and staff affected by the incident, while also attending to his own well-being as someone who is grieving alongside the rest of the community,” it said. —VAL, GMA News