Baterbonia laid to rest
MANILA, Philippines — Rene Baterbonia was laid to rest Thursday with his name now immortalized in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur and across the country.
Thousands of people lined up during the funeral around the town on the way to newly established Barangay Labnig Memorial Cemetery, where families, friends and relatives bid goodbye to the Tacalogon’s son.
At the center of it all was his parents wearing his Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) jersey No. 2, which was retired by his alma mater Ateneo de Davao University.
Baterbonia, 18, passed away on June 8 with Ateneo de Manila University teammate Divine Adili from Nigeria in a tragic drowning incident during the Blue Eagles’ team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora.
He just arrived in Manila that week after his senior high school graduation from the Ateneo de Davao, which he led to multiple regional titles including the Davao Region’s first-ever Palarong Pambansa title in 2025 in Laoag where he was named as the MVP.
This year, Baterbonia had a homecoming in Agusan del Sur that served as first-time Palaro host albeit Davao Region yielded the throne to CALABARZON.
Hopes were high for Baterbonia as one of the country’s rising stars, especially with the glorious Ateneo program in the UAAP, before his unfortunate demise that led to a national outcry and a massive government probe.
Talacogon on the same day adopted an ordinance declaring June 8 as “Rene Clert ‘Bobet’ N. Baterbonia Day” in honor of his legacy and contributions to the local government unit through sports.
Aside from the ordinance, Ateneo de Davao has also renamed its Senior High School courts as the “Rene Bobet Baterbonia Covered Courts”.
Calls for the Department of Education (DepEd) to name the Palarong Pambansa MVP to a former awardee himself have also gained traction.
As for financial and material support, Ateneo de Davao has granted full scholarships until college to Baterbonia’s six siblings while the National Housing Authority has offered a condominium for his family at the Madayaw Residences in Davao City according to Agusan del Sur governor Santiago Cane Jr.
Ateneo de Manila, for its part, has offered material assistance for a “period of time” to the both families of Baterbonia and Adili.
Details if it would be monetary, livelihood or house and lot and other necessities have not been disclosed but Ateneo de Manila emphasized that it’s not a “legal settlement” but a “moral responsibility.”
The remains of the other drowning victim in Adili, meanwhile, was flown back to Nigeria on Monday.
The tragic drowning of Baterbonia and Adili involving Ateneo officials and coaches is still under investigation by multiple government agencies, the UAAP, CHED and Ateneo with its own internal probe.
- Latest
- Trending
