Kieffer Alas and Sam Reyes broke their silence on how Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili were pulled from the waters of Dipaculao, Aurora, recounting a traumatic and chaotic experience in which they—not professional first responders—were the ones who physically carried Baterbonia out of the sea before Adili was discovered shortly after.
The two Blue Eagles provided separate but corroborating and detailed accounts of the incident — which unfolded on the afternoon of June 8 and claimed the lives of Adili and Baterbonia — in an interview with Pia Hontiveros in her Let’s Talk podcast at the Pod Network
Reyes revealed that the entire team, not responding authorities from the municipality of Dipaculao, was responsible for lifting Baterbonia out of the water and bringing him to shore.
“When we saw Rene, it was us who carried him out of the water, not the first responders. Wala pong tumulong. They were just spectating. They were just watching us,” Reyes said.
Alas supported Reyes’ account, saying that among the bystanders was at least one individual from the official rescue team who appeared to be documenting the incident.
Before the university announced the passing of Adili and Baterbonia last Monday, multiple photos and videos had already circulated online showing Baterbonia inside an ambulance before he was transported to Aurora Memorial Hospital.
(C) Pia Hontiveros
“One guy nga po, he had his phone out like that po. I was wondering why. Hindi talaga ako makasalita, kami ni coach Sandro [Soriano], we could not focus talaga. We were overwhelmed talaga. Pero, I saw it with my eyes na he was just filming,” Alas said.
“I am pretty sure there’s a photo of him in the ambulance or him being dragged out on the stretcher. I am sure it was him,” he added.
Alas also clarified that Jerick Rueca, the team’s physical therapist, performed CPR on Baterbonia before Angel Librero — the team leader of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Dipaculao — intervened to place him on a stretcher for ambulance transport.
Beyond that, Alas further recounted the sequence of events surrounding the discovery of Adili, an incident he said occurred almost simultaneously with Baterbonia being taken away in an ambulance.
The son of assistant coach Louie Alas revealed that he and Soriano attempted to track down the departing ambulance when they realized Adili had also been found.
“Right after nung paalis na yung ambulance ni Rene. They boarded him and the ambulance was leaving na. Then me and coach Sandro saw that Divine was getting carried out na,” Alas said.
“Coach Sandro ran to the ambulance telling them to stop, but I don’t think they heard us. I’m not sure, they left… Me and Coach Sandro walked back, and we just saw like 15 people carrying Divine. I was just there like, I couldn’t grasp what was happening. I was just staring. It was too hard. They were doing CPR for a bit.”
Alas and Reyes’ accounts are in partial contrast to that of Librero, who initially said it took about 30 minutes before authorities were dispatched to the incident. He also reported that initial responders — including resort staff and a lifeguard — were already conducting search operations.
In another interview, Librero said that one team official had initiated CPR on Baterbonia upon reaching the shore, but stopped the procedure to transfer the 18-year-old rookie to the nearest hospital while resuscitation efforts continued.
She described Baterbonia and Adili as “unstable” when rescuers found them, with no signs of breathing observed, which led to the decision for immediate transport.
