Rene Baterbonia’s mom not ready to face Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin

MANILA, Philippines – The mother of deceased Ateneo player Rene Baterbonia said a meeting with Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin is far from her mind as she prioritizes the return of her son’s remains to Mindanao. 

From Arlington Memorial Chapels in Quezon City, Baterbonia’s remains will be flown to Davao City, where a wake will be held in his alma mater Ateneo de Davao Senior High School on Friday, June 12. 

“I don’t think I’m ready to talk to him because I want to put my son first — his wake and everything. I’ll put my son first,” said Rovelyn Baterbonia in Filipino in a press conference on Wednesday, June 10. 

The Baterbonias said Baldwin, Ateneo’s basketball coach for the last 10 years, has also yet to reach out to their family.

From Davao, Rovelyn plans to bring her son home to Agusan del Sur.

Baterbonia, who grew up in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, was a a former 4Ps Monitored Child and Student Athlete, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga.

The 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) is the poverty reduction and social development program of the government, managed by the DSWD.

Rovelyn said she wants clarity and a detailed account of the events leading up to the drowning of Rene and Nigerian teammate Divine Adili on Monday, June 8, during the Blue Eagles’ team building at a private resort in Dipaculao, Aurora.

While the Aurora Police Provincial Office found no indication of foul play and described the deaths as “purely accident[al],” Rovelyn still found explanations of what transpired by members of the Ateneo team insufficient.

According to the police, the players were in thigh-deep water when they were swept away by strong currents.

While Baldwin has yet to meet with the Baterbonias, assistant coaches Dean Castaño and Sandro Soriano talked to Rovelyn and Rene’s high school coach, Jess Evangelio, on Wednesday. 

“They said it was an accident. But I said it only became an accident because of their negligence. They went there without a rescue team. They said they had a medic but only for first aid. The beach is 20 to 30 minutes away from the hospital,” said Rovelyn. 

Still unable to wrap her head around her son’s death, Rovelyn said she needs more information from the team and the university to get closure. 

“They apologized to me. But I said, an apology won’t bring my son back. My son won’t come back to life because of your apology. Just give me a clear explanation so I can accept that it was an accident,” said Rovelyn.

Rovelyn said she has yet to think about whether she would take legal action concerning her son’s death, even asking the National Bureau of Investigation and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group for time before they get her side.

“All I know right now is I want to put my son first before I think about my next step,” said Rovelyn. 

Reports said the Baterbonias’ lawyer, Atty. Israelito Torreon, plans to request the Department of Justice an immigration lookout bulletin against Baldwin, a dual US-New Zealand citizen.  

“We’re not saying that he’s liable,” Torreon told the media in Filipino. “It’s for the investigation to continue.” – Rappler.com