PNP: Ateneo’s Baterbonia died of ‘asphyxia by drowning’

[Updated June 10, 2026, 5:43 p.m]

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo de Manila University basketball player Rene Baterbonia died of “asphyxia by drowning,” according to the Aurora Provincial Police Office.

“Based on the certificate of post-mortem examination we have, the result appears to be asphyxia by drowning,” Aurora police chief Col. Percival Pineda told reporters in Camp Crame via teleconference on Wednesday.

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Baterbonia and his group were allegedly “walking” in an area where the water was at the level of the hips, parallel to the shore, some 300 meters away from a beach resort in Dipaculao, Aurora, at around 2:40 p.m. last Monday, Pineda explained.

“It was part of their training,” the police chief noted.

Baterbonia, teammate Divine Adili, and two others were then supposedly swept away by a current, the Aurora top cop said.

While the two others were rescued, Baterbonia and Adili were not found until about 30 to 40 minutes later, after which they were given first aid but later declared dead, he added.

Pineda noted that Baterbonia and Adili were found “about five armspans” from the shore.

Although Baterbonia’s cause of death was determined to be asphyxia by drowning in the post-mortem examination, the Aurora police have yet to receive any information on Adili.

In a statement on Tuesday night, Ateneo said Adili’s family had requested to have his remains returned to Nigeria in keeping with tradition and that the university was awaiting the clearance to begin the process.

The Aurora police earlier ruled out foul play in Baterbonia and Adili’s deaths.

On Monday, Ateneo extended its condolences and support to Baterbonia and Adili’s families.

Baterbonia, 19, recently played in the Palarong Pambansa finals two weeks ago and committed to the Blue Eagles program.

Adili, 21, a Nigerian foreign student athlete, played in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament last year.

This is a developing story. /mcm /mr