Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

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/17812346194411781234616193.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. Photos from UAAP Media/NBTC<br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)" id="isPasted"/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The resort where Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili allegedly drowned lacked warning signages and life vests, the municipal tourism office of Dipaculao, Aurora said Friday.  </p><p>Municipal tourism officer Leticia Combis told ABS-CBN News that the only notices they spotted at the resort were house rules posted inside the resort’s rooms.</p><p>“Actually, wala kaming nakitang signages sa labas ng resort kundi may mga house rules sila sa loob ng kuwarto. Ang kulang lang ‘yong mga hotline kasi lahat ng hotel ay binibigyan namin ng hotline ng MDRRMO, pulis, sa tourism, gano’n po. ‘Yon po ang wala,” said Combis.</p><div><em><strong></strong></em><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/12/rene-baterbonia-s-remains-arrive-in-davao-1016">&#x27;Welcome home, Bobet&#x27;: Rene Baterbonia’s remains arrive in Davao</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/12/divine-adili-s-mother-demands-answers-3-days-after-fatal-aurora-drowning-0951">&#x27;Tell me what happened to my son&#x27;: Divine Adili&#x27;s mother demands answers on Aurora drowning </a></div><p>The tourism office also noted the absence of life vests and posters of pool rules at the resort.</p><p>On Thursday, the resort’s lawyer, Raymund Martelino, said house rules, safety guidelines, and warning infographics about <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/6/11/what-is-a-rip-current-1151">rip currents</a> were posted inside rooms and in other areas throughout the property.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/resort-owners-appear-before-nbi-over-baterbonia-adili-case-2018">Resort owners appear before NBI over Baterbonia, Adili case </a></div><p>However, Combis maintained that there were no warning signs outside the resort.</p><p>“Sa labas po talaga pong unabes wala pong signage doon sa labas. Kahit po ‘yong pool nila, hindi po ma-determine kung ilang feet, walang mga vest doon, walang pool rules. ‘Yon po ang nakita namin,” said Combis.</p><p>The tourism office also learned that the resort had four security guards who simultaneously served as lifeguards.</p><p>“May apat po silang guard at the same time, mga lifeguard po sila. Pero hindi po licensed ‘yong lifeguard. Licensed silang mga security guard. Dual po ang task nila. ‘Yong isa parang pinaka-[bantay] nila sa entrance nila, tapos ‘yong isa ‘yong tumitingin doon sa kanilang pool, sa paligid,” Combis added.</p><p>She said the personnel assigned to monitor swimmers should have been stationed in a watchtower to provide a clear view of the shoreline and guests in the water.</p><p>“Dapat po kung lifeguard, andun siya sa may watchtower nila. Wala po silang watchtower. Para makita nila ‘yong guest nila, matanaw nila doon sa dagat,” she said. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/drowning-at-ateneo-team-building-activity-what-we-know-so-far-2137">Drowning at Ateneo team-building activity: What we know so far</a></div><p>Combis added the tourism office did not find any medical personnel on standby at the resort.</p><p>“Wala po kaming naanong medic. ‘Yong kanilang receptionist, ‘yong kanilang guard, kasi sila sir, online booking e kaya walang guest book sa kanila, ‘yon ang napansin namin kaya hindi namin maano ‘yong mga pangalan ng players kung nakatala o hindi.”</p><p>On Thursday, the Dipaculao local government ordered the temporary closure of the resort following the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.</p><p>The guard on duty in the resort confirmed to ABS-CBN News that they had received the order.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/11/ateneo-says-they-asked-tab-baldwin-to-refrain-from-speaking-publicly-after-adili-baterbonia-deaths-1828">Ateneo says they asked Tab Baldwin to refrain from speaking publicly after Adili, Baterbonia deaths</a><br/><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">Persons of interest identified, subpoenas issued in probe of Ateneo players&#x27; drowning</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/11/-no-weights-used-in-conditioning-exercise-in-knee-deep-water-says-ateneo-1622">‘No weights’ used in ‘conditioning exercise’ in knee-deep water, says Ateneo </a></div><div><br/></div><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><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/Fm_u8_Cbi-E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/GUksP_4K27k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The resort where Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili allegedly drowned lacked warning signages and life vests, the municipal tourism office of Dipaculao, Aurora said Friday.</p>

The resort where Ateneo student-athletes Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili allegedly drowned lacked warning signages and life vests, the municipal tourism office of Dipaculao, Aurora said Friday.

Resort where Ateneo athletes drowned lacks warning signs, life vests: tourism office

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Resort where Ateneo athletes drowned lacks warning signs, life vests: tourism office

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 12, 2026 11:20 AM PHT

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Updated June 12, 2026 12:26 PM PHT

Read More:

Baterbonia

Adili

Ateneo

resort

Aurora

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