Rovelyn Baterbonia arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 on Tuesday afternoon from Agusan del Sur to claim the remains of her son, Rene Baterbonia, following his death during a team-building activity in Aurora.
In an interview with GMA News’ Mariz Umali and News5’s Mon Gualvez, the grieving mother raised serious questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident at Hermanos Leisure Farm and Surf Camp in Barangay Libis, Dipaculao.
Rene, a former Palarong Pambansa MVP, and Nigerian student Divine Adili died on Monday afternoon after drowning during the activity.
Rovelyn said she was not properly informed about the nature of the activity her son would undergo.
“Nung pumunta kami dito sa Maynila, sabi nila na kausapin kami nila. Nung nag-orient sila, hindi talaga nila sinabi na magkakaroon ng training na gano’n. Kasi kung sinabi pa lang nila, matanong ko na sa anak ko, ‘Kaya mo ba yun?’ Para madesisyonan namin,” she recalled.
“Hindi ko alam ba’t ganun ang nangyari. Ang bigla na lang nag-text yung anak ko. Sabi niya, ‘Ma, one week siguro wala akong cellphone. Kasi yung may training kami doon sa Baler.’ Tapos sabi niya, hindi pwede daw mag-cellphone. Sabi ko, ‘Sige na. Mag-amping.’ And then dapat ingatan yung katawan kasi isa lang yun. Kasi akala ko training lang nga hindi military training. Ano ba yun?”
The next communication Rovelyn received was the call any mother would never want to receive.
“Tapos, yun nga. Wala na siyang cellphone nung Saturday. Wala na siyang cellphone hanggang Sunday nga. Tapos, bigla nalang may nag-message sa akin, sinabi na, ‘Pwede ba ako tumawag sa iyo?’ Tapos, di naman siya tumawag. Tapos ako na lang nagtawag,” she said.
“Tapos pagtawag, nung tumawag na ako, sabi niya, ‘Ma’am, na-aksidente po si Rene. Nalunod po.’”
The mother said she continues to question how the situation unfolded, especially why a water activity was included in a basketball team’s program.
“Yun, malaking tanong ko talaga. Ba’t napunta doon sa dagat? Kasi basketball naman yung anak ko, hindi naman swimming,” she continued, crying.
“Masakit. Sobrang support ko mula bata hanggang ngayon. Tapos, ginanon lang nila. Kasi kung alam ko lang na may training sila na ganyan, kahit mahirap kami, hindi ko yun ipapahamak yung anak ko talaga.”
Rovelyn also called for accountability and answers.
“Kaya ngayon, gusto ko ng justice talaga sa kung anong nangyari. Bakit ganun ang nangyari sa anak ko? Alam naman nila mabigat yung nilalagay nila sa paa and then sa kamay. Tapos, pinaano pa nila sa dagat? Hindi na ba sila naawa?” she continued.
“Ang dami nila, ba’t naman pumunta sila doon na walang dalang rescue, walang medic? And then, yung anak ko, wala talaga akong tulog. Kasi naghihintay ako kung saan na ba yung anak ko. Kahit isang picture, wala silang send sa akin. Wala naman silang sabi, ‘Ma’am, ito na yung anak mo. Nakuha na namin sa dagat. Tapos dadalhin na namin ito sa Maynila.’ Wala talaga. Wala silang sinasabi sa akin.”
Rovelyn also criticized how the situation was handled after the recovery.
“Tapos, biniyahe nila yung anak ko. Hindi man lang nila binihisan, walang damit, yung shirt basa. Tapos, wala pang staff na sumama sa nagsundo sa kanila sa punerarya, yung opisyal na trabahante sa punerarya,” Rovelyn recalled. “Tinanong ng tita niya, ‘Sino bang kasama niyo?’ ‘Kami lang.’ ‘Walang staff ba sa Ateneo?’ Wala talaga.”
“Post lang nila na ganyan na yung anak ko na wala na. Pero wala talaga silang binigay kahapon hanggang kagabi na picture para ma-prove ko na anak ko ba talaga yun. Hanggang kanina pang umaga, nalaman ko na wala na talaga yung anak ko.”
Overwhelmed with grief, she described the pain of losing her son.
“Kaya iyak ako nang iyak. At nung narinig niya yung salita ko, parang umiiyak sa dami niyang luha lumalabas sa mata niya. Isang saglit lang, ang pangarap ng aking anak, winasak nila.”
She also demanded answers on how the incident happened, seeking help from anyone who could provide clarity and accountability.
LOOK: Rovelyn, the mother of Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team player Rene Baterbonia, expressed deep grief over the death of her son following what was described as a team “training” activity. (1/2) @gmanews pic.twitter.com/WRBQ509aci
— Mariz Umali (@marizumali) June 9, 2026
