Witnesses say 2 other Ateneo athletes almost drowned with Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili: Aurora police
Aurora police said that aside from Rene Baterbonia, 19, and Divine Adili, 21, witnesses claimed two other athletes from the Ateneo de Manila University men's basketball team were caught in the rip current where Baterbonia and Adili ultimately drowned.
In a phone interview with News5, Aurora Police Provincial Office Acting Director PCol. Percival Pineda said four athletes, not just two, were swept up in the strong current during their team-building activity.
"Apat 'yung allegedly nalunod. Pero 'yung dalawa ay nakabalik tapos 'yung dalawa ay nawala," Pineda said.
"Bigla silang nahila doon sa mas malayong parte ng dagat. At hindi na sila nakita. So nagkaroon agad ng paghahanap. After several minutes bago sila nakita," he added.
The basketball players were in a resort in Dipaculao, Aurora with the rest of their team when, on June 8, Baterbonia and Adili passed away in a drowning incident.
According to Pineda, a lifeguard was present and had immediately responded.
"'Yung lifeguard, andu'n po siya kaagad. Meron siyang ginagamit na surfboard. 'Yun 'yung pang-rescue niya," he said.
The officer debunked reports claiming the athletes were wearing leg weights when they were found.
"Base po sa statement ng ating mga nakausap, wala silang nakitang any kind of that... 'yung ganoon pong sinasabi na may mga weights," Pineda said.
For now, the police are talking to the management of the resort where the athletes were staying. According to Pineda, they have yet to ascertain if any individual or institution can be held liable for the drowning incident. In the course of their meetings, Pineda said they would discuss whether to include Ateneo de Manila University in their investigation.
'No coordination' with LGU
In an interview with DZRH News on Wednesday, June 10, Dipaculao Mayor Danila Tolentino claimed the owner of the resort where the Ateneo contingent stayed did not coordinate the group's arrival with the local government.
According to Tolentino, when big groups of tourists arrive, it is the LGU's practice to coordinate their safe stay with barangay officials, personnel from the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, tourist police deployed by the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
"'Yun po 'yung nagtutulong-tulong para maging safe. Mayroon din silang boat patrol na ginagawa pagka-peak 'yung aming [tourist] arrivals," the mayor said.
Since the resort allegedly did not notify the LGU of their student-athlete arrivals, the LGU was not able to ensure the presence of the necessary safety personnel.
"Sana ay ipatala nila ang lahat ng bisita sa amin. May opisina naman ang tourism officer o kaya sa MDRRMO, lalo na sa barangay," the mayor added.
"Kasi alam na namin ang trend ng aming dagat, na mayroong current 'yan na bigla na lang na nangunguha ng mga naliligo o nagsi-swimming," Tolentino said. Because of the treacherous nature of the waters off the incident site, the mayor emphasized there were warning signs posted recommending the use of life vests and advising against swimming.
An MDRRMO report stated the victims were found without life vests.
According to initial police investigations, the student-athletes allegedly entered the water while undergoing a team-building exercise. Findings suggested the players were in waist-deep water when Baterbonia and Adili disappeared, supposedly pulled by a rip current.
Rescuers found Baterbonia about 30 minutes later; Adili, about an hour afterwards.
The mayor has ordered MDRRMO, the Dipaculao Tourism Office, local police, and the Philippine Coast Guard to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the incident parallel to other probes.
Tolentino said MDRRMO would lead an ocular inspection of the incident site on Wednesday. Additionally, the LGU will be reviewing whether resort owners, hotel operators, and transient houses comply with the local government's existing safety regulations.
As the PNP, the Department of Justice, and other agencies carry out their investigations, the Philippine Sports Commission has also put together a sports stakeholders' panel whose goal is to establish "a clear, accurate, and comprehensive understanding of the events that transpired." In the panel are representatives from multiple government agencies and basketball organizations.
While police have ruled Baterbonia and Adili's deaths as purely accidental, Baterbonia's family has requested an autopsy. They will then prioritize bringing his body home to Agusan del Sur. Adili's remains are being readied for transport home to his family in Nigeria.
