ATENEO CAGERS ‘DROWNING’ PURE ACCIDENT – PNP AURORA

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) Aurora Provincial Office on Tuesday said the drowning of Ateneo varsity players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili on Monday in a beach resort in Dipaculao town was “purely accident.”

 “Natural accident po talaga ang nangyari, at sa ngayon, wala po tayong nakikitang foul play,” said Police Colonel Percival R. Pineda, acting provincial director of the Aurora PPO, in a press conference.

 “Based po sa ating nakuhang salaysay, itong insidente na ito ay talagang purely accident,” he added.

The incident occurred in a resort in Dipaculao where the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team was holding its team-building activity on June 8.

The activity was joined by around 20 members of the team, including players and coaching staff.

An investigation showed that prior to the drowning, the group were beach walking when high waves in the famous surfing area hit them.

The players continued walking only to realize that two of their teammates were already missing.

The bodies of the two were recovered after a nearly an hour search.

“Based po sa salaysay ng ating mga nakausap, meron po silang activity na kung saan lumakad po ang mga player sa tabing dagat,” said Pineda.

“Nasa hanggang hita po ang lalim ng tubig, at bigla na lang po silang napunta sa malalim na parte. ‘Yung part po ng nilalakaran nila ay may malalim na bahagi, at doon nga po, bigla silang tinangay ng current papunta sa mas malalim na bahagi ng dagat,” he said.

“May mga kasama po sila na tumulong, at meron din pong lifeguard, pero sa kasamaang palad, nasawi nga po ang dalawa,” he added.

The 19-year-old Baterbonia and the 21-year-old Adili, a Nigerian, were brought to Aurora Memorial Hospital for resuscitation efforts but were declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

“The entire Ateneo community mourns the loss of Rene and Divine. The University extends its heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, teammates, coaches, and loved ones. We ask the community to keep them in their prayers during this most difficult time,” Ateneo said in a statement.