Combination photo shows Ateneo de Manila University head coach Tab Baldwin and incoming Blue Eagles recruit Rene Baterbonia, who drowned during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora. (Photos by Marlo Cueto and obtained from Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — The mother of Ateneo de Manila University recruit Rene Baterbonia has rejected the characterization of her son’s death as an accident, saying she remains unconvinced by head coach Tab Baldwin’s apology over the tragedy.
In a Facebook post on Saturday, Rovelyn Baterbonia questioned the circumstances surrounding the death of her 19-year-old son, who drowned off the coast of Dipaculao, Aurora, during the Blue Eagles’ team-building activity on Monday.
“My son’s death cannot be brought up in apologies, so that you know what I want you to say. Why do you say that what happened to my son was just an accident? I don’t think it was just an accident,” Mrs. Baterbonia said in Visayan.
She also said Baldwin had not personally communicated with her as of Saturday.
“You haven’t updated me on what happened. You posted on social media that my son is dead,” she said.
Baldwin, in a video statement released Friday, apologized for what he called a leadership failure that led to the deaths of Baterbonia and foreign student-athlete Divine Adili.
Baterbonia was an incoming Ateneo rookie and a former standout from Ateneo de Davao University’s senior high school program.
Meanwhile, Ateneo de Davao is holding a public viewing for Baterbonia at Christ the King Chapel on its Bangkal Campus until Sunday.
“In grief, we gather. In love, we hold on. In hope, we remember,” the school said in a Facebook post. /dm
