Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Former Ateneo Blue Eagles player Dave Ildefonso believes the drowning deaths during a team-building activity in Aurora earlier this month were accidental but could have been prevented.</p><p>Ildefonso was among those who appeared before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Thursday as authorities continue investigating the deaths of Ateneo student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.</p><p>“It was accidental, but I think rin that they could have been more prepared kasi there&#x27;s a lot of factors din sa ocean. If it was in a more controlled environment, syempre, feel ko naman maiiwasan ‘yun,” Ildefonso said.</p><p>“I think may mga pagkukulang, may mga pagkakamali. Pero, what&#x27;s done is done na. I&#x27;ll just look forward to what will transpire in the next few days,” he added.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:514px;height:601px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2070040191562338684&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-06-25T11%3A10%3A20.625740%3A65122135-130f-4e2f-8f3f-882947779c02%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=b4b8e727903e0942d38d401b0b048566b9838b29&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2070040191562338684"></iframe></div><script async="" src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>Ildefonso clarified that he never participated in any team-building activities in Aurora during his stint with Ateneo from 2020 to 2022.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/23/nbi-baterbonia-adili-autopsy-reports-ready-1255">NBI: Autopsy reports of Ateneo&#x27;s Baterbonia, Adili ready<br/></a></div><p>He said activities outside the university were canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Training sessions were conducted exclusively inside the Ateneo campus.</p><p>He said he has no first-hand knowledge of the drills allegedly conducted in Aurora and only learned about them through stories shared by former teammates and alumni, including his brother.</p><p>“Like they would swim, parang military training… just for mental and physical toughness. Other than that, wala naman akong alam and I don’t think there was any foul play or whatsoever,” he explained.</p><p>Ildefonso was also asked about former Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin, whom he described as one of the best coaches he has played for.</p><p>He said their relationship was always professional and that he could only speak about Baldwin in his capacity as a basketball coach.</p><p>Meanwhile, MVP Sports Foundation chairman Manny Pangilinan did not personally appear before the CIDG on Thursday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/nbi-to-finish-probe-on-ateneo-drowning-incident-by-friday-1501">NBI to finish probe on Ateneo drowning incident by Friday<br/></a></div><p>“[CIDG director] Gen. [Robert Alexander] Morico informed the lawyers of MVP that his presence is no longer needed since the case buildup is almost complete. His affidavit was enough,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in a text message.</p><p>The CIDG is expected to submit its findings and case referrals to the Department of Justice on Friday.</p>

<p>Former Ateneo Blue Eagles player Dave Ildefonso believes the drowning deaths during a team-building activity in Aurora earlier this month were accidental but could have been prevented.</p>

Former Ateneo Blue Eagles player Dave Ildefonso believes the drowning deaths during a team-building activity in Aurora earlier this month were accidental but could have been prevented.

Ex-Ateneo player Dave Ildefonso: Team-building deaths accidental but preventable

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Ex-Ateneo player Dave Ildefonso: Team-building deaths accidental but preventable

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 25, 2026 07:00 PM PHT

|

Updated June 26, 2026 11:16 PM PHT

Read More:

PNP

CIDG

Ateneo Blue Eagles

basketball

probe

drowning

subpoena

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.