Aurora provincial police on Wednesday dismissed claims that two Ateneo de Manila University basketball student-athletes who drowned in Dipaculao town had weights on their hands and feet when they were rescued.
Aurora police spokesperson Maj. Lorena Bautista said witness statements from the responding lifeguard and personnel of the Dipaculao Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that no weights were found on the victims during the rescue.
“No weights were seen in their hands and feet during the time the victims were rescued,” Bautista said in a radio interview.
The victims, Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili, drowned last Monday afternoon during a team-building activity.
Baterbonia’s mother, Rovelyn, earlier said she believes there was foul play in her son’s death, claiming that he had bruises and weights on his hands and feet.
Asked if police could categorically say that the two were not wearing weights when they were rescued, Bautista said: “Yes, based on the witnesses who gave their sworn statements.”
She added that, based on the statement of the Ateneo coaching staff, the incident was an accident.
“It was an accident and no one wanted it to happen,” Bautista said, citing the coaching staff’s statement.
Despite this, Bautista said investigators are conducting a thorough probe to determine whether any person may be held liable for possible negligence.
She said Aurora police chief Col. Percival Pineda led a case conference last Tuesday as part of the continuing investigation into the incident.
“The PNP of Aurora is open and coordinating with other law enforcement with regards to negligence,” Bautista said.
Asked whether the victims’ families and Ateneo officials would be summoned, Bautista said she was not privy to the next steps that investigators would take.
“Our provincial director will be the one to issue instructions as to how the joint investigation will be conducted to determine liability, especially on the part of negligence,” Bautista said.