MANILA, Philippines — There were no weights on the bodies of Ateneo de Manila University basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili when they drowned in Dipaculao, Aurora, the police said on Tuesday.
Asked about claims circulating on social media that weights had been attached to the two athletes as part of a supposed team building activity, Dipaculao town police chief Maj. Eduardo Mendoza Jr. answered in the negative in a text message to the Inquirer.
Mendoza explained that he was citing the statements of the responding personnel of the town disaster risk reduction and management office as well as the responding police officers.
READ: Aurora police: No foul play in drowning of Ateneo’s Baterbonia, Adili
Earlier, at a press briefing with Mendoza, Aurora province police chief Col. Percival Pineda said investigators did not see any foul play in the death of the two students, explaining that a current had dragged them away until they drowned.
At the briefing, Pineda noted that the incident occurred at a beach resort some time around 2:40 p.m. on Monday, while Mendoza noted that the police had been notified of the incident by 3:15 p.m.
Pineda also appealed to the public to refrain from spreading “misinformation” as a show of sympathy for the bereaved families.
The Ateneo de Manila University on Monday extended its condolences and support to Baterbonia and Adili’s families.
Baterbonia, 19, recently played in the Palarong Pambansa finals two weeks ago and committed to the Blue Eagles program.
Adili, 21, a Nigerian foreign student athlete, played in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament last year. /jpv
