Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

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/17812237766371781223773395.jpeg" 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></span></span></span>MANILA — Malacañang on Thursday mourned the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calling for an in-depth investigation.</div><p>“Unang-una po, of course, ay nakikiramay tayo sa pangyayaring ito,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing.</p><p>“Kailangan talaga ng imbestigasyon dahil hindi talaga naging maganda ang naging resulta ng nasabing training. Of course, hindi natin kailangan i-pre-empt or mag-prejudge dito. So kailangan talaga ng agarang imbestigasyon,” she added.</p><p>Ateneo de Manila University on Monday announced Adili and Baterbonia&#x27;s deaths in a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.</p><p>They were reportedly swept away by waves while in waist-deep water, an activity the coaching staff defined as part of their “training.”</p><p>They were found unconscious after more than 30 minutes of searching and were declared dead on arrival at a hospital.</p><p>A post-mortem examination later found that the two student-athletes died of “asphyxia by drowning.”</p><p>The National Bureau of Investigation&#x27;s initial finding showed no foul play was involved but <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/nbi-reviewing-no-foul-play-finding-in-baterbonia-adili-deaths-1312">does not rule out potential liability due to negligence.</a></p><p>The police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which has its own investigation, said it has identified at least<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/persons-of-interest-identified-subpoenas-issued-in-probe-of-ateneo-players-drowning-1744"> three persons of interest</a> in the incident.</p><p>Resolutions have been filed at the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/10/house-probe-sought-into-safety-accountability-in-school-sports-programs-1101">House of Representatives</a> and the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/senate-probe-sought-into-ateneo-player-s-death-0700">Senate </a>for hearings to help ensure the safety of student athletes.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fm_u8_Cbi-E?si=_fn0fKCDMWuzfU11" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Malacañang on Thursday mourned the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calling for an in-depth investigation.</p>

Malacañang on Thursday mourned the deaths of Ateneo basketball players Divine Adili and Rene Clert Baterbonia, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. calling for an in-depth investigation.

Malacañang mourns, calls for probe on Baterbonia, Adili deaths

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Malacañang mourns, calls for probe on Baterbonia, Adili deaths

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2026 08:34 AM PHT

Read More:

Ateneo

drowning

Divine Adili

Rene Clert Baterbonia

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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