Police share initial findings from investigation on Ateneo players' drowning incident
Police Regional Office 3 is currently investigating the sudden death of two Ateneo de Manila University basketball players on Monday, June 8, and has released its initial findings.
Rene Clert Baterbonia, 19, and Divine Adili, 21, both student-athletes for the Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball team, lost their lives on June 8 while the team was on a team-building trip in Dipaculao, Aurora.
"While the investigation remains ongoing, initial findings indicate that the victims were swimming when they were reportedly carried by a strong current into deeper waters," PRO 3 wrote in a statement.
According to the police, personnel from the Dipaculao Municipal Police Station "immediately responded upon receiving information regarding the incident" and extended assistance. The players were rushed to a medical facility; however, they were later declared dead by the attending physician," the report stated.
Concluding its statement, PRO 3 asked the public to avoid making speculations about the incident and leave the authorities to complete their investigation. They also urged tourists and beachgoers to be especially careful when they go in the water, "particularly in areas where strong currents may be present."
Echoing the PRO 3 station's condolences to the bereaved, the PNP Aurora Police Provincial Office likewise shared the grief of those Baterbonia and Adili left behind.
"This heartbreaking incident serves as a solemn reminder that the sea can be unpredictable and that utmost caution and vigilance must always be observed during recreational and water-related activities," the Aurora PPO wrote in a statement.
The station appealed to netizens to respect the victims' families' right to grieve in private.
"Let us allow them the space, dignity, and peace they deserve during this difficult time. Human compassion and respect must prevail over the pursuit of online attention and engagement," the statement continued.
PSC convenes investigative panel
As the PNP and the Department of Justice carry out their investigations of the incident, the Philippine Sports Commission is implementing its mandate "to provide leadership and direction in sports development and athlete welfare."
In this regard, it has put together a sports stakeholders' panel whose goal is to establish "a clear, accurate, and comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired."
"Beyond fact-finding, this multi-stakeholder body...will examine existing policies, protocols, and training practices toward resolutions to strengthen safeguards in athletic training environments," the statement read.
"The goal is not only to understand what happened, but to ensure that lessons learned lead to safer, more responsive systems that protect athletes while sustaining high-performance sport," it continued.
Baterbonia, an Agusan del Sur native, won for Davao the region's first Palarong Pambansa basketball championship in December 2025. The 6-foot-4 former Ateneo de Davao star was declared MVP. He graduated from senior high school at Ateneo de Davao University then transferred to Manila to enroll in AdMU and join the Ateneo Blue Eagles men's basketball team. He was training to play in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 89 when he passed away.
Meanwhile, Adili was a 6-foot-10 Nigerian who competed in UAAP Season 88 with Ateneo Blue Eagles. Although back issues kept him from completing the season, he eventually recovered and helped Ateneo break its five-game losing streak.
