TIMELINE: How rescue efforts unfolded in Ateneo's Rene Baterbonia, Divine Adili drowning?

The Aurora Provincial Police Office on Thursday detailed the timeline of events after the drowning of Ateneo basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili on Monday.

Interviewed on GMA Network’s "On Record," Aurora Police spokesperson Police Major Lorena Bautista said investigators have so far found no indication of foul play and are continuing to look into possible negligence by organizers and other parties involved.

Bautista outlined the sequence of events in the rescue efforts for the two student-athletes:

2:40 p.m.

According to the police investigation, the drowning incident occurred at around 2:40 p.m.

2:50 p.m.

A lifeguard of the beach resort was informed of the situation at about 2:50 p.m. and immediately proceeded to the area identified by the coaching staff as the location where the victims had disappeared.

3:15 p.m.

At 3:15 p.m., the Dipaculao Police Station received a report from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) regarding the incident.

3:25 p.m.

Responding police officers arrived at the scene at around 3:25 p.m. and coordinated with rescuers who had already begun search operations.

3:35 p.m.

Authorities said Baterbonia's body was recovered at around 3:35 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

Ten minutes later, at around 3:45 p.m., rescuers recovered Adili's body.

3:47 p.m.

Baterbonia was immediately transported to Aurora Memorial Hospital, arriving at 3:47 p.m.

3:51 p.m.

Adili was also brought to Aurora Memorial Hospital and arrived at 3:51 p.m.

Rescue

Asked if there were delays in the rescue efforts, Bautista said responders immediately administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other emergency measures as soon as the victims were recovered.

The victims were also immediately transported to the hospital, she added.

“Ayon doon sa responders, agad noong ma-recover nila yung katawan ng mga biktima, agad silang nagbigay ng paunalunas, CPR. At habang pinadala dun sa hospital on the way ay nag-undergo ng CPR sa biktima at agad nga nila itong itinurn-over sa ospital,” she said.

(According to the responders, as soon as they recovered the victims' bodies, they immediately administered first aid, CPR. And while being taken to the hospital on the way, they did CPR on the victims and immediately turned them over to the hospital.)

Despite the rescue and medical intervention, attending physicians later declared both victims dead.

According to the police, the National Bureau of Investigation's (NBI) post-mortem examination found that Baterbonia died from asphyxia due to drowning.

Authorities have maintained that the incident appears to have been an accidental drowning based on witness accounts, statements from responders, and other evidence gathered so far.

Witness, lifeguard, and responder accounts indicate that no ankle weights were worn by the victims during the incident, contrary to rumors circulating online, according to Bautista.

However, Bautista said investigators are still examining whether negligence on the part of organizers, the resort management, or other involved parties may have contributed to the tragedy.

She declined to identify any "persons of interest” as the term is usually associated with criminal investigations.

“Hindi ko po masasagot yung persons of interest kasi on the part of law enforcement, kapag sinabi kasing persons of interest talaga, they are suspects of a certain crime,” Bautista said.

(I can't answer about persons of interest because on the part of law enforcement, when we say persons of interest, they are possible suspects of a certain crime.)

Statements

Statements have been obtained from two Ateneo coaching staff members.

However, team members have not yet provided statements and reportedly requested more time to recover from the traumatic experience before being interviewed.

“Siguro magiging problema lang nito siyempre yung ating mga team members, the coaching staff ay wala na dito sa [area of responsibility] namin. Yun lang siguro yung by distance lang,” she said.

(Maybe the only problem in obtaining statements from the team members and the coaching staff is they are no longer here in our area of responsibility. Distance might be the only issue.)

“Pero halimbawa sa communications ay nandito naman po ang NBI, ang [Criminal Investigation and Detection Group] at ang [Philippine National Police] po ng lokal ay nagtutulong-tulong para po sa ikalilinaw po ng pangyayari,” she added.

(But for example in communications, the NBI, the CIDG are here, and the local PNP are helping each other to clarify what happened.) —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA News