Blue Eagles Recall Drowning Tragedy, Get Death Threats

Ateneo Blue Eagles junior Sam Reyes has begun receiving death threats over the drowning of his former teammates, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

In an Instagram story on Thursday, June 17, Reyes shared one of the threats, with one user castigating him for being dramatic in his podcast interview with veteran journalist Pia Hontiveros rather than appearing before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“You’re just tall. If you get shot in the head, your height means nothing,” the user told Reyes.

In Hontiveros’ podcast aired last Tuesday, June 16, Reyes said three huge waves swept the team and separated them into groups.

“When the second wave happened, there was also another wave that followed with similar height,” Reyes, a 21-year-old third-year psychology student, said. “On the first wave, we were riding the wave and we didn’t realize that we were being drawn in already,” he added.

Blue Eagles rookie Kieffer Alas, who joined Reyes in the interview, said that by the third wave, “everyone started screaming already because we couldn’t reach the (ground).”

They said that the water already reached the mouth of 6-foot-10 Filipino-Canadian Malcolm Tyler. One of the coaches, according to them, “was screaming at us to go to the right” toward the shore.

Alas, who doesn’t know how to swim, admitted that he had already “accepted” his fate when he was submerged in the water for more than 20 seconds. He was only saved by doing doggy paddling aided by Tyler.

Reyes claimed that Adili still had a pulse when he was retrieved from the water after hearing his teammates gathered at the shore. “The only one that I heard who has a pulse was Divine. He had a pulse.”

Reyes said he felt guilty when he saw Baterbonia’s lifeless body beside him. “It was eating me alive. There were times when I was just awake. I tried to sleep and then I would still see his face. Like when I was carrying him, I saw his face,” he said.

Reyes and Alas already went to the NBI-Homicide Division on Wednesday, June 17, one of five units in the task force probing the incident.

On Thursday, nine current cagers and two coaches appeared before the NBI for its continuing probe into the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.

Assistant coaches Sandro Soriano and Dean Castaño went to the NBI together with their lawyers.

Players who showed up are team captain Jared Bahay, Ian Espinosa, Kyle Gamber, Waki Espina, Andrew Bongo, Alden Cainglet, Malcolm Tyler, Shawn Tuaño and Romeo Ebdane. None of them spoke to the media.

Resigned Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin is expected to arrive on Friday after excusing himself on Tuesday because he was “not in a good condition,” according to his lawyer, Karl Justeen David.

With their investigation nearly complete, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is eyeing to submit its recommendation before the Department of Justice (DOJ) next Tuesday on who will face criminal case for the deaths of Baterbonia and Adili.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is just awaiting the testimonies of Baldwin and members of his coaching staff who were expected to appear before the CIDG on today, June 19.

“Maybe on Tuesday we will bring to the DOJ our full report,” Remulla told reporters in an interview at Camp Crame.

While he gave assurance that someone will have to face charges for Batebornia and Adili’s deaths, Remulla clarified they have yet to identify the people responsible for the tragedy.

“If someone dies, there is always liability. To determine who is liable, I cannot say now,” he said.

Remulla said police investigators have created a timeline of the incident, which includes the decision-making process for the team building and identifying who among the players can or cannot swim.

The CIDG is looking at filing cases of homicide and violation of Republic Act 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Law, focusing on Baldwin as the brains of a grueling training regimen that led to the tragedy.

Senate probe

Sen. Bong Go, chair of the committee on sports, filed Senate Resolution last June 15, seeking a Senate inquiry into the drowning of Baterbonia and Adili.

The proposed inquiry, in aid of legislation, aims to examine existing policies, safety protocols, and training practices governing athletic training environments, with the end in view of strengthening safeguards and welfare protections for student-athletes nationwide.

“The safety and well-being of our athletes must always come first. While sports help develop discipline, teamwork, and excellence among our youth, we must also ensure that every training activity and team-building exercise is conducted under adequate safety measures and proper supervision,” Go said. He added that developments in the ongoing investigation further highlight the need for a Senate inquiry.

Go expressed his condolences to the families, teammates, coaches, and loved ones of the two athletes, emphasizing that their untimely passing serves as a reminder of the need to prioritize athlete safety in all sports-related activities. – With Emmanuel Tupas, Evelyn Macairan