MANILA, Philippines – The family of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia visited on Wednesday the shoreline in Dipaculao, Aurora, where the promising young basketball player drowned during the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) Blue Eagles’ team-building activity on June 8.
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| Photo courtesy: Talacogon Municipal Information Office (MIO) |
Bobet’s parents and older brother stood quietly near the spot where flowers had been offered in his memory, revisiting the place that marked his final moments and renewing their call for truth and justice.
A photo shared by the Talacogon Municipal Information Office captured the emotional visit and carried the message: “Uban sa kasubo ug gugma, ilang gihandom ang mga panghitabo nga dili na gayud mapulihan,” which translates to, “With grief and love, the family cherished the moments that can never be replaced.”
Bobet died alongside his Nigerian teammate, Divine Adili, in the drowning incident that shocked the country's basketball community and sparked questions about whether negligence or foul play contributed to the tragedy.
Those allegations are now the subject of separate investigations by several law enforcement agencies as authorities work to establish what happened during the team-building activity.
Bobet’s elder brother, Rubeyan, also shared photos of their journey to Aurora and wrote, “Bet naa nami, uli na ta,” or “Bet, we're here. Let's go home,” a message that resonated deeply with supporters following the family's ordeal.
The Baterbonia family traveled from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, to Manila on Monday, just five days after Bobet's burial, as they continued seeking accountability for his death.
Attorney Israelito Torreon and Bobet’s mother, Rovelyn, also shared videos showing a dove perched on one of their vehicles while they were on their way to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
In a heartfelt Facebook post, Rovelyn wrote, “Nak, salamat sa pag guide ug pag uban2x sa akoa. Wala man jud koy lain masangpit karon na panahon kondi ang Ginoo ug ikaw lang jud, Nak,” thanking her son for what she described as his continuing guidance and placing her faith in God.
In recent days, videos of two doves along the Dipaculao shoreline and two more perched on Bobet’s casket during his wake have circulated online, with many netizens viewing them as symbolic of the two young athletes whose lives were cut short while the search for answers continues.
— The Summit Express
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