Guilt-wrecked Sam Reyes says he could have done more to save Rene Baterbonia: 'It's eating me alive'

16 Jun 2026 • 8:06 PM MYT
The Manila Times
The Manila Times

One of the longest-running English broadsheets in the Philippines

Guilt-wrecked Sam Reyes says he could have done more to save Rene Baterbonia: 'It's eating me alive'

MANILA, Philippines — Ateneo Blue Eagles junior Sam Reyes said he's wrecked with guilt, feeling like he could have done more to save his teammate Rene Baterbonia who drowned in their team building activity in Dipaculao, Aurora last week.

"I just feel guilty because Rene was beside me, and I feel like I could have done more to keep him from drowning," said the emotional Reyes in the "Let's Talk" by Pia Hontiveros podcast Tuesday.

"It’s eating me alive. It’s just killing us because we were there. We lost two of our brothers. It just hurts that we managed to stay alive but parang pinapatay po kami."