Mom of Ateneo rookie Baterbonia determined to seek justice for her son's death

The outpouring of support following the drowning death of Ateneo basketball player Rene “Bobet” Baterbonia has reached far beyond his family, with people from the Philippines and beyond continuing to stand by his mother, Rovelyn.

During her sit-down interview with actress-host Toni Gonzaga on “Toni Talks,” Rovelyn shared how the support has strengthened her as she continues to seek truth, accountability, and justice for her son.

“Hindi lang buong Pilipinas. Kahit sa ibang bansa po, marami po silang nakiramay.”

When Toni asked what those who mourned Bobet told her, Rovelyn said they encouraged her to continue fighting for justice.

Rovelyn made it clear that she would continue the fight even without their support. “Kahit naman po walang magsuporta. Alang-alang sa anak ko, lalaban talaga ako sa pinapakita nila,” she said.

Rovelyn said the fight is not only about seeking justice for Bobet. She also hopes that what happened to her son will help prevent another family from experiencing the same pain.

She wants the circumstances surrounding Bobet’s death to be fully understood and hopes that lessons will be learned so that another young athlete will not suffer the same fate.

When asked what message she would give Ateneo de Manila University, she had one straightforward request: “Sana magsabi sila ng katotohanan. Katotohanan na may respeto, pagmamahal sa kapwa-tao.”

When Toni asked how she wanted people to remember her son, she did not focus on his basketball achievements or the tragedy that cut his life short. Instead, she spoke about his character and the respect he showed towards others.

“Gusto kong sabihin sa kanila na iyong respeto na ipinakita ng anak ko, ayun ang gusto kong ipagpatuloy ng iba kasi respeto naman talaga, mahirap ka o mayaman.”

Rovelyn believes this was also how Bobet was known by the people around him, including his teammates, classmates, and others who knew him.

As she continues to grieve, Rovelyn remains determined to pursue justice for the son she lost. The support she has received has given her strength, but her reason for continuing the fight has always been personal.