Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Hernel Tocmo

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/17813072026781781307199942.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Ateneo de Manila University rookie Rene Clert Baterbonia. <em>Photo from NBTC. </em></span></span></span></div><p>DAVAO CITY — The bruises found on the body of Rene Baterbonia, who drowned in a team-building activity earlier this week, were caused by the handling of his body during rescue operations, according to the student athlete&#x27;s sports agent and former coach.</p><p>Coach Jess Evangelio, Baterbonia&#x27;s former mentor, said on Friday that the athlete&#x27;s aunt first noticed the bruises when his body arrived at Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City.</p><p>Joevince Eusebio, Baterbonia&#x27;s sports agent, explained that the bruises were hematomas that developed during the handling of Rene&#x27;s body.</p><p>“’Nung nag-rescue, ’yung handling ng body during the rescue, ’yun ang magko-cause ng hematoma o pagpapasa. ’Yun siguro bakit may mga pasa. In the death certificate, ang nakalagay ay asphyxia dahil sa pagkalunod,” Eusebio told the media during a press conference at Ateneo de Davao University.</p><p>Hours before Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin broke his silence, Evangelio had already said they were waiting, hoping, and praying that the current coach would explain to Baterbonia&#x27;s family what truly transpired.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/12/-i-failed-as-a-leader-as-a-coach-says-baldwin-as-he-breaks-silence-on-adili-baterbonia-s-death-1935">‘I failed as a leader, as a coach,’ says Baldwin as he breaks silence on Adili, Baterbonia’s deaths</a></div><p>The family has yet to release a new statement following Baldwin&#x27;s video message posted on the official social media page of Ateneo de Manila University.</p><p>“Sana si Coach Tab Baldwin, makita namin, marinig namin na kausapin kahit in private lang, makausap ang family and parents ni Rene kasi it’s the least that he can do na sana mabigyan lang ng clarity,” Evangelio said.</p><p>Eusebio also appealed for understanding, saying that Baterbonia&#x27;s parents are still unable to speak to the media as they continue to grieve the loss of their beloved son.</p><p>Evangelio likewise expressed hope that the family would eventually receive answers regarding what truly happened, who should be held accountable, and the individuals involved, so they could finally have peace of mind.</p><p>He clarified that he was not speaking about legal matters and was simply there to support Rene and his family.</p><p>He added that Rene had become a hero to many, noting that numerous people visited Ateneo de Davao University to mourn and express sympathy for the family.</p><p>“Sobrang nakakataba din sa puso kasi sobrang daming nagsu-support kay Rene. Sobrang daming nag-a-idol sa kanya. Sobrang influential niya na tao kasi ’yun nga, hindi lang naman kasi siya magaling sa basketball, mabuting tao din siya,” Evangelio added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/6/12/baldwin-on-adili-baterbonia-deaths-nothing-in-life-can-prepare-me-for-this-2154">Baldwin on Adili, Baterbonia deaths: &#x27;Nothing in life can prepare me for this&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>ISSUES ON SOCIAL MEDIA</strong></div><p>Eusebio also addressed several issues circulating on social media, including claims that Kieffer Alas was prevented from speaking further with Rene Baterbonia&#x27;s mother when his Ateneo de Manila teammates visited the wake.</p><p>“Kieffer was there. Pag-approach ni Kieffer sa mom, nagkuwento sila. Tapos pumasok ako doon because Kieffer is my inaanak (godson). And I introduced him to the mom of Rene. And when we played for NBTC in Manila, isa lang ang request ni Kieffer Alas na maging teammate for us sa team namin, si Rene Baterbonia,” he said.</p><p>Eusebio was also asked about photos circulating on social media that appeared to show Baterbonia being &quot;left out&quot; by his teammates during their beach team-building activity.</p><p>“You know, social media is very... creative. Kung ano ’yung nakikita natin, ’yun ang nakikita natin. ’Yung story siguro behind that, medyo mahirap kung i-interpret on our own. Science will always solve that, kaya nga may mga investigation na ginagawa. ’Yung kuwento na pinabayaan siya, wala tayong alam doon,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/12/governor-denies-recommending-lawyers-torreon-bondoc-to-baterbonia-family-0752">Agusan del Sur governor denies he recommended lawyers Torreon, Bondoc to Baterbonia family</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GJ1vllFMyyk?si=iNCDN-hvwhfqbcHL" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The bruises found on the body of Rene Baterbonia, who died from asphyxia due to drowning, were caused by the handling of his body during rescue operations, according to the student-athlete's sports agent and former coach.</p>

The bruises found on the body of Rene Baterbonia, who died from asphyxia due to drowning, were caused by the handling of his body during rescue operations, according to the student-athlete's sports agent and former coach.

Baterbonia’s former coach, agent appeal to Tab Baldwin and Ateneo for clarity

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Baterbonia’s former coach, agent appeal to Tab Baldwin and Ateneo for clarity

Hernel Tocmo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 13, 2026 10:12 AM PHT

|

Updated June 13, 2026 01:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Rene Baterbonia

wake

death

Ateneo de Manila

Aurora

Davao City

investigation

Tab Baldwin

Jess Evangelio

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