THE mother of the late Ateneo rookie Rene Baterbonia is on her way to Manila seeking answers following the team-building tragedy that claimed the life of his son and his Blue Eagles teammate Divine Adili.
Agusan del Sur Governor Santi Barriga Cane Jr. received Rovelyn Baterbonia and other family members on Tuesday and personally vowed to help the family as they deal with the loss of the former Palarong Pambansa MVP.
READ Police confirm Baterbonia, Adili 'swept away by strong currents'
"We will all help Bobet Baterbonia's family to retrieve his body," the governor wrote, vowing support to the grieving family from Talacogon.
Rovelyn met with the governor on Tuesday morning before she flew to Metro Manila.
"When it comes to basketball, we're supportive of Bobet because this is our way out of poverty. But we were not told that upon his arrival, there will be a training like this. Had we known, we wouldn't have allowed him and we didn't really understand the nature of that [team building]," she said in their native Bisaya.
"We left the Agusan Marsh because it always floods, that's why we left for Talacogon because we didn't want our children to endure hardships [and then this happened]."
The Baterbonia matriarch also shared that she wanted to bring home the body immediately but was told by Ateneo officials that it would take three days to process all the necessary documents.
Cane said the province will demand a 'proper explanation' from Ateneo on the circumstances that led to Baterbonia and Adili's deaths.
"After this, the investigation surrounding his death will follow. We will demand a proper explanation from ADMU as to what is the real reason why the death of two of their recruits happened during the supposed team building," Cane said.
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