DepEd Region 11 supports probe into deaths of Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili

The Department of Education - Region 11 said it supports an investigation into the deaths of Ateneo de Manila University student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, according to a report by Super Radyo Davao reporter Jhesa Torrefranca on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday.

DepEd 11 said it wants to know the truth regarding what happened in the incident.

Representatives of DepEd 11 went to the wake of Baterbonia at Ateneo de Davao in Davao City on Saturday.

They said they welcome the decision of Ateneo de Davao to give scholarships to the siblings of Baterbonia.

Incoming Ateneo de Manila University rookie Baterbonia and foreign student athlete Adili both tragically died in a drowning incident on Monday, June 8 during a team building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.

Baterbonia, a former Palarong Pambansa champion and MVP with Ateneo de Davao, was set to start his collegiate journey with the Blue Eagles in UAAP Season 89.

The 21-year-old Adili, meanwhile, was Ateneo's reinforcement in Season 88, where the Blue Eagles finished with a 6-8 card.

The Police Region Office 3 (PRO 3) launched an investigation into the fatal drowning incident.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) Aurora Provincial Office said that there were no findings of foul play, and added that it was "purely accident".

There were no weights attached to the bodies of Baterbonia and Adili when they drowned, the PNP in Dipaculao said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the deaths of the two basketball players.

On Wednesday, the Aurora Provincial Police Office said the cause of death of Baterbonia was asphyxia by drowning based on a post-mortem examination certificate.

Rovelyn Baterbonia, mother of Rene, meanwhile is seeking clarity on the circumstances that led to the death of her son.

Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin apologized to the families of the players on Friday, saying, "I'm sorry. To the depth of my being, I'm sorry."

“On that fateful day, when we sent the players out for a routine training run in what we thought was shallow water, up to the moment when we realized that whatever had happened, they were in dangerous water. We did everything that we could,” Baldwin said.

“At that moment, I felt I had failed. I failed as a leader. I felt I had failed as a coach," he added.

Rovelyn Baterbonia said Baldwin's apology was not enough while Adili's parents are seeking answers and also saying apologies are not enough.

Atty. Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of the Baterbonia family, said he supports any House probe into the incident but requested that there be also a separate investigation to be done by the Senate.

Torreon also said they are preparing for filing of possible charges. —KG, GMA News