Rovelyn Baterbonia Firmly Denies Making Money From Rene’s Passing
ROVELYN BATERBONIA – Amid the painful loss of her son Rene, Rovelyn Baterbonia is setting the record straight about the sale of his memorabilia and jerseys.
Rovelyn Baterbonia has once again denied accusations that she profited from the death of her son, Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball player Rene Baterbonia. During her recent appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda” on Friday, October 2, Rovelyn addressed claims that she was allegedly using her son’s passing to earn money.
“Since you have become a public figure, binibigyan kayo ng atensyon katulad na lamang po ng mga nagsasabi—patawarin n’yo po ako dahil uulitin ko lamang po itong masakit na salita—pineperahan mo ang pagkamatay ng iyong anak,” Boy Abunda told Rovelyn during the interview.
Rovelyn firmly rejected the accusation, emphasizing that she never asked anyone for financial assistance following Rene’s death.
“Sa totoo lang, hindi ko pineperahan ‘yong anak ko, ‘yong pagkamatay ng anak ko, kasi kahit ni piso, hindi po ako nanghingi [sa] kahit sinong tao,” said Rovelyn.
She also clarified that the sale of Rene’s memorabilia was not something she started because of his death. According to Rovelyn, selling memorabilia was actually a business idea that Rene himself had started while he was still alive.
“No’ng buhay pa po ‘yong anak ko, ‘yon na po ‘yong iniwan niya sa akin na negosyo. Siya ‘yong nakaisip na magbenta kami ng mga memorable niya kasi marami daw nanghihingi sa kaniya,” said Rovelyn.
She added, “Kaya ayon, nag-umpisa kami, nag-post muna ako kasi wala kaming puhunan. Nag-post ako sino gusto mag-order ng Baterbonia Collection po.”
Rovelyn had previously addressed similar accusations through a Facebook post, explaining that she and Rene were already selling jerseys before his passing.
“Gusto ko lang po ipaalam sa lahat po ng nagsasabing pinagkakaperahan ko ang anak ko, buhay pa po man siya nagbebenta na po kami ng jersey at kabilin-bilinan niya dati pa para may pandagdag sa gastusin ng aming pamilya.”
“At may pera man po kami di po ako nanghingi at kusa naman po nagbigay ang mga tumulong sa amin,” Rovelyn added.
Rene was a promising basketball player from Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. He previously played for Ateneo de Davao University before joining the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
His promising career was cut short on June 8, 2026, when he drowned alongside Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili during a team-building activity at a resort in Dipaculao, Aurora.
Rene was laid to rest on June 24 in Talacogon, where thousands of relatives, friends, supporters, and fellow residents gathered to mourn his passing.
READ ALSO: Rovelyn Baterbonia Explains Why Rene’s Mini Museum Has a ₱30 Fee