Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Paige Javier

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17810601082661780979415602IMG_1138.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo de Manila University&#x27;s Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia. <em>Photos from UAAP Media/NBTC.</em> <br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Aurora Provincial Police Office said on Wednesday there were no weights attached to the bodies of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia when they drowned.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/9/pnp-aurora-says-no-foul-play-in-drowning-of-ateneo-s-adili-baterbonia-1238">PNP Aurora says no foul play in drowning of Ateneo&#x27;s Adili, Baterbonia</a></div><p>When asked about claims circulating on social media, Aurora PNP&#x27;s Public Information office chief Maj. Lorena Bautista said this was not true based on the information they gathered from personnel who responded to the incident in Dipaculao, Aurora.  </p><p>According to the police, the incident happened at around 2:40 p.m. on Monday in front of the resort where the Ateneo Men&#x27;s Basketball Team was conducting its team building activity.</p><p>&quot;Based po doon sa mga statement na na-gather po natin from the lifeguards as well as the responding personnel po ng MDRRMO Dipaculao ay wala naman po silang nakitang weights sa kamay, sa paa during the time na ma-rescue ang mga biktima,&quot; she said in an interview on DZMM TeleRadyo.</p><p>Bautista likewise cited the statements of the witnesses and coaching staff who were present when the incident occurred on Monday.</p><p>&quot;Based po yan sa witnesses na nakuhanan natin ng statement... Based din po sa mga statement po ng coaching staff ng Ateneo de Manila, ang nangyari pong insidente ay aksidente po. At walang may kagustuhan,&quot; she said.</p><p>Aurora police Acting Provincial Director Col. Percival Pineda said on Tuesday there is no indication of foul play in the drowning incident that claimed the lives of Adili and Baterbonia.  </p><p>The Aurora police will conduct further investigation on the matter, following the case conference held on Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;The PNP of Aurora is open po, and is coordinating with other law enforcement agencies with regards po sa negligence. We are open for that and we are willing to help the families, the bereaved families and provide necessary assistance para makuha nila yung hustisya na gusto natin ibigay,&quot; Bautista said.</p><p>The mother of Baterbonia earlier questioned why they were not advised of such activities and were not properly informed about what happened to her son.</p><p>Lawmakers have filed separate House resolutions to look into safety standards and accountability mechanisms of school-sponsored athletic programs following the incident.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/9/ateneo-working-closely-with-adili-baterbonia-families-after-drowning-incident-1848">Ateneo &#x27;working closely&#x27; with Adili, Baterbonia families after drowning incident</a></div><p>The local government of Agusan del Sur likewise called for a &quot;thorough investigation&quot; and &quot;determination of accountability&quot; in Baterbonia&#x27;s passing.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GhAzUZ_IDBM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Ateneo said Baterbonia&#x27;s and Adili&#x27;s remains have been transferred to a memorial chapel in Quezon City.</p><p>The family of Baterbonia has requested an autopsy be conducted with Ateneo and the chapel coordinating with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) to facilitate the process.</p><p>The remains of Adili will be returned to Nigeria upon request of his parents, in keeping with family and cultural practices.</p><p>Ateneo said no final arrangements for the wake of both athletes have been confirmed.</p><p>The 19-year-old Baterbonia was born and raised in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur before transferring to Davao City for his studies and to play basketball.  </p><p>He rose to fame during the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, where he led the Davao Eagles to the secondary boys&#x27; basketball title and was named Most Valuable Player.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/8/uaap-ateneo-s-adili-baterbonia-pass-away-in-drowning-incident-1959">UAAP: Ateneo’s Adili, Baterbonia pass away in drowning incident</a></div><p>The 21-year-old Adili played his rookie year for Ateneo in UAAP Season 88.  </p><p>The Nigerian big man showed a lot of promise in his first collegiate season, after an impressive career in the juniors&#x27; level with back-to-back NAASCU MVP awards.</p><p>The two young basketball stars were seen to be a huge boost to the Blue Eagles in their upcoming UAAP campaign. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SmUOKwbg6fY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>The Aurora Provincial Police Office said there were no weights attached to the bodies of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia when they drowned.</p>

The Aurora Provincial Police Office said there were no weights attached to the bodies of Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Divine Adili and Rene Baterbonia when they drowned.

No weights attached to drowned Ateneo athletes—Aurora PNP

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No weights attached to drowned Ateneo athletes—Aurora PNP

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 10, 2026 11:01 AM PHT

|

Updated June 10, 2026 09:03 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

Divine Adili

Rene Baterbonia

Ateneo Blue Eagles

Aurora Provincial Police Office

Aurora PNP

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