Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Darylle Sarmiento

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/1781221756512Screen Shot 2026-06-12 at 6.42.14 AM (3).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Israelito Torreon and Jimmy Bondoc, who serve as legal counsel of Rene Baterbonia’s family, during an interview on June 10, 2026. <em>Darylle Sarmiento, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. strongly denied claims he directly recommended lawyers Israelito Torreon and Jimmy Bondoc to the family of the late Ateneo de Manila University basketball player Rene Baterbonia.</p><p>“That’s absolutely false. I vehemently deny that. Hindi &#x27;yan ang nangyari,” Cane said in an interview.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/baterbonia-s-legal-counsel-hopes-ateneo-allows-players-to-be-interviewed-2316">Baterbonia&#x27;s legal counsel hopes Ateneo allows players to be interviewed</a></div><p>Cane explained that it was Torreon who reached out to him after obtaining his contact details through another provincial governor.</p><p>“He introduced himself as Attorney Torreon—wala ngang first name &#x27;yun eh. Just Atty. Torreon—and he told me that he got my number from another provincial governor who happens to be his friend,” Cane clarified.</p><p>The governor stressed that Torreon volunteered to represent the Baterbonia family on a pro bono basis, which prompted him to acknowledge the lawyer on social media.</p><p>“He told me that he is volunteering to be the legal counsel of the Baterbonias. So, pinasalamatan ko siya through my post on Facebook for his voluntary services. Sabi niya, pro bono daw. Eh, sino ba namang hindi magpasalamat if somebody volunteers his services?” Cane said. </p><p>“But I did not tell him that I will endorse [him] as their lawyer.”</p><p>Cane further clarified that neither he nor the provincial government officially offered legal services to the family, emphasizing that he respects the family&#x27;s prerogative in choosing their own defense team.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/calabarzon-coach-says-rene-baterbonia-was-role-model-on-and-off-court-2248">Calabarzon coach says Rene Baterbonia was &#x27;role model&#x27; on and off court</a></div><p>Instead, Cane noted that he merely instructed the Provincial Legal Office to stand by and prepare to extend necessary support if the family requests it, noting that the Baterbonias are constituents of Agusan del Sur.</p><p>Meanwhile, the governor disclosed that the local government unit (LGU) has already extended financial and logistical support to the grieving family. </p><p>The LGU covered their airfare, hotel accommodations, and transportation expenses in Manila, and provided them with pocket money during their stay.</p><p>Baterbonia, a student-athlete from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, recently died in a tragic drowning incident alongside a teammate during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.</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/BverWCrA2tc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. strongly denied claims he directly recommended lawyers Israelito Torreon and Jimmy Bondoc to the family of the late Ateneo de Manila University basketball player Rene Baterbonia.</p>

Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane, Jr. strongly denied claims he directly recommended lawyers Israelito Torreon and Jimmy Bondoc to the family of the late Ateneo de Manila University basketball player Rene Baterbonia.

Agusan del Sur governor denies he recommended lawyers Torreon, Bondoc to Baterbonia family

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Agusan del Sur governor denies he recommended lawyers Torreon, Bondoc to Baterbonia family

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2026 07:52 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo

Baterbonia

Agusan Del Sur

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