NO stalking and initiation happened at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) camp in Dipaculao, Aurora that led to the drowning of Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
That is the claim of Blue Eagle Sam Reyes, a third year student, dismissing the rumors and allegations that Ateneo freshmen, including Messrs.
Mr. Reyes said the loading and unloading of luggage from the bus to the resort, the table and preparation of their breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as washing the dishes afterwards are the only activities for beginners in Aurora.
“‘He hears and has great power,'” said Mr. Reyes on the Pod Network’s Let’s Talk with Pia Hontiveros podcast, who also appears before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) with Kieffer Alas on Wednesday.
“No po. What I felt as a team was that we were close po,” added Mr. Maye.
The Blue Eagles also denied that there were ankle braces placed on them by Ateneo coaches during the open sea camp, clarifying that the picture of retired coach Tab Baldwin with a black machine circulating on social media was the remote control of the drone they used to find the missing players to rescue them.
As Mr. Alas, Mr. Baterbonia was a rookie when Mr. Adili is a sophomore but first time at the Aurora camp which has been a tradition every year for Mr. Baldwin or “Blue Eagles, Band of Brothers” preparing for the UAAP battle.
They were among a group that was evacuated far from shore after large waves hit them during the operation in shallow waters at first.
The Blue Eagles and first responders first rescued Mr. Mr. Adili even had a heart attack when he was rescued when Mr. Baterbonia was given CPR but was interrupted when they were taken to Aurora Memorial Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
In Ateneo’s first statement, the incident was considered “team structure” before admitting during the press conference on Monday that it was the base camp of the Blue Eagles under Mr. Baldwin, who himself recalled that the tragedy occurred during their “regular training” before a series of large waves broke the teams apart.
Even former Blue Eagles have called the camp “army,” “hell week” and “deadly training,” so much so that they don’t want to go back to Aurora even for a vacation after their days as players now.
According to the staff of the Hermanos Leisure and Farm Resort in Barangay Lipit, Ateneo also held their activity 300 meters away from their resort and “asked to be left alone.”
This series of claims from many people has led to speculation about the existence of foul play or hazing or reception ceremonies a la fraternity of neophytes.
Authorities led by the NBI and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group are already studying that angle, including the murder, although the investigation is still ongoing.
However for the Blue Eagles, it has just lost two brothers and it is not fair for others to blame it, the worst is to turn it into a Blue Eagle vs Blue Eagle battle.
“It’s like the death of two people po. First you lose your friends and now you are criticized for their death. We lost them and saw it happen. And then, everyone on social media and anyone, they just put the blame on us. It’s hard to explain but this is what we heard this past week,” said Mr.
“I feel guilty that’s why Rene was by my side and I felt that I could have done more para di sya malunod. It’s eating me alive. It was killing us kasi we were there and we lost two brothers. Sobrang sakit po na parang nabuhay nga po kami pero parang pinapatay po kami,” added Mr. Reyes.
Whether it was an accident or not, this tragedy could have been avoided according to the players with the necessary protective equipment.
According to the account of Messrs. Reyes and Alas, only three life buoys, three volleyballs and one surfboard were available during their camp with no life vests, speedboats or motorboats as the Ateneo coaches checked and said the water was only shallow. – John Bryan Ulanday
