Police note 'discrepancy' on Baterbonia's time of death

Police noted the discrepancy in the time of death indicated in the death certificate of Ateneo student Rene Baterbonia during a Senate inquiry on Thursday.

Baterbonia and fellow cager Divine Adili reportedly drowned at a beach in Dipaculao, Aurora during an activity of the Ateneo basketball team on June 8, 2026.

Based on the timeline presented by the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), the victim was recovered at 3:40 p.m. His death certificate, however, showed his time of death was at 3:33 p.m.

“We don’t intend to speculate on this discrepancy until the relevant records and witnesses have been completely evaluated,” P/Lt. Col. Michael Odejerte, officer-in-charge of the major crimes investigation unit under PNP-CIDG, told the Senate committee.

Odejerte said the “discrepancy” is being reconciled through the statements of the attending medical personnel, hospital records, and the physician who certified the time of his death.

Meanwhile, Adili was reportedly spotted and recovered at around 3:45 p.m., police added.

Fr. Roberto "Bobby" Yap, Ateneo president, appeared before the inquiry and issued a fresh apology to the bereaved families. He also clarified that the university management extended support to their loved ones since the fatal incident.

“Although we did not immediately publicize every action we undertook, our work in supporting the families began on June 8 and has continued to this day without interruption. Many of these efforts were undertaken quietly out of respect for their families and their privacy,” he said.

“We know that none of these efforts can ever fill the void left by Rene and Divine, or change what has happened, or ease the immeasurable loss their families continue to bear. They were simply the beginning of our continuing efforts to accompany and support them,” he added.

Yap went emotional as he denounced the cyberbullying and online harassment that Baterbonia and Adili’s teammates were experiencing.

“We continue to provide pastoral, psycho-social, and other forms of support to the surviving student-athletes and other members of the University community directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.

“They not only lost their beloved teammates and friends and witnessed this tragedy firsthand, but many continue to endure cyberbullying, online harassment, and trial by publicity while grieving. We unequivocally condemn these acts because they only deepen the pain of those already grieving by spreading disinformation and causing further harm,” he added. —Sundy Mae Locus/LDF, GMA News