The 21st Davao City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution expressing deep condolences to the bereaved families of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia and Divine Adili, honoring their lives, legacies, and contributions, and calling for a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths to help ensure the safety and welfare of student-athletes.
The body recognized Baterbonia as an exceptional young athlete who brought pride and honor to Davao City, the Davao Region, and Mindanao through his remarkable achievements in basketball.
As the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2025 Palarong Pambansa, he led the DAVRAA Eagles to their historic first gold medal in the secondary boys’ basketball competition and was recognized as one of the most outstanding athletes of the Palarong Pambansa.
It highlighted Baterbonia’s outstanding performance and dedication, which earned him the opportunity to pursue his athletic aspirations through recruitment to play for the Ateneo de Manila University, serving as an inspiration to countless young people who aspire to achieve excellence in basketball.
On June 8, 2026, Baterbonia and his fellow student-athlete, Adili, tragically lost their lives in a drowning incident during a team-building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora, cutting short two promising lives devoted to sports and education.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod joins the families, friends, teammates, coaches, educational institutions, and the entire sporting community in mourning the profound loss and extends its heartfelt sympathies and prayers for strength, healing, and comfort in their grief.
“The tragic incident has raised legitimate concerns regarding the safety, supervision, and welfare of student-athletes participating in training activities, camps, and team-building programs, thereby underscoring the necessity of ensuring that adequate safeguards and protective measures are consistently observed,” the resolution reads.
The body emphasized that while authorities have commenced investigations and issued initial findings regarding the incident, the pursuit of truth through a comprehensive, transparent, impartial, and evidence-based inquiry remains essential in addressing public concerns, preserving confidence in institutions, and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Apart from recognizing the athletes’ contributions and calling for transparency in the investigation, the body also urged educational institutions, sports organizations, coaches, and all entities responsible for student-athlete programs to review and strengthen safety protocols and welfare policies governing training activities, camps, and team-building exercises in order to provide the highest degree of protection to young athletes entrusted to their care. CIO