STILL trying to comprehend how a basketball camp ended with the loss of her son, Rene Baterbonia’s mother Rovelyn arrived at NAIA Terminal 2 on Tuesday carrying more questions than answers.
After the tragic incident which had the promising Ateneo rookie drowining during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora on Monday, the grieving mother spoke publicly for the first time, calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy.
At the center of her anguish is a question she says has haunted her since learning of her son’s death.
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“Ang malaking tanong ko, bakit napunta doon sa dagat? Kasi basketball naman yung anak ko, hindi naman swimming," she said.
A police report stated that Barterbonia and his teammate Divine Adili were swept away by strong currents during a beach activity that formed part of the Blue Eagles’ offseason training camp in Aurora.
The two young big men were considered key pieces of Ateneo’s future, with Baterbonia expected to take on a larger role after showing promise during his high school days.
For his mother, however, thoughts of basketball have been replaced by grief and disbelief.
She recalled that Ateneo officials conducted an orientation for parents when her son joined the program, but said there was never any mention of activities similar to what allegedly transpired in Aurora.
“Nung nag-orient sila, hindi talaga nila sinabi na magkakaroon sila ng training na ganoon. Kasi kung sinabi pa lang nila, natanong ko na sa anak ko kung kaya niya ba yun para makapagdesisyon kami," she stated.
The last communication she received from Rene came before the camp, when he informed her that he would be without his cellphone for about a week.
“Nag-text yung anak ko sabi niya, ‘Ma, one week siguro akong walang cellphone kasi may training kami doon sa Baler.’”
Thinking it was simply another phase of his basketball preparation, she offered the same advice she had always given her son.
“Sabi ko, 'Sige nak, pag-amping [be careful]. Dapat ingatan yung katawan kasi isa lang ’yan.”
It would be the last conversation they would share.
What followed was silence.
Mrs. Baterbonia did not hear from her son again until she received a call informing her that an accident had occurred.
The grieving parent also questioned reports that participants were allegedly carrying weights during portions of the activity - part of the unverified details that have been spreading on social media.
“Kaya ngayon gusto ko ng justice talaga. Kung anong nangyari, bakit ganoon yung nangyari sa anak ko? Alam naman nilang mabigat yung nilagay nila sa paa at saka sa kamay, tapos pinaano pa nila sa dagat.
“Ang dami nila, bakit naman pumunta sila doon na walang rescue, walang medic?” she asked.
Beyond the questions surrounding the incident itself, Baterbonia’s mother also expressed frustration over what she described as the lack of communication in the aftermath of the accident.
She said she struggled to obtain information regarding her son’s condition and only learned more details through relatives and people who had reached out to help the family.
“Hindi man lang sila nagsabi sa akin. Wala man lang isang picture para mapatunayan ko na anak ko nga iyon," she rued.
She also revealed that she has yet to receive direct answers regarding several aspects of the incident, including how long rescue efforts took and what exactly transpired before her son’s disappearance.
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