Senator Robin Padilla shared his visit to the wake of the late Ateneo Blue Eagles basketball player Rene Baterbonia, whose remains lie at the Arlington Memorial Chapels and Crematory in Quezon City.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, June 11, the senator was seen wearing the 19-year-old athlete's basketball jersey while paying tribute to the young man.
Baterbonia was among the fatalities in a drowning incident that occurred at a beach in Aurora during a team-building activity and training session with Nigerian student-athlete Divine Adili.
Accompanying the photos was Padilla's message: “The world was his, but gone too soon!”
In another shared image, the senator was also seen making a fist bump, a gesture often associated with former President Rodrigo Duterte and his supporters.
Meanwhile, the senator received mixed reactions from netizens. Some expressed support and admiration for Padilla's show of sympathy, while others criticized him, saying he seemed to be riding on the issue surrounding the athlete's death.
Among the criticisms from some netizens was Padilla wearing the deceased player's jersey. However, other netizens defended the senator, saying that Baterbonia's family approached him for help, which Padilla immediately responded to.
Netizen comments included praise for the senator's quick assistance and calls to help the athlete's family achieve justice. Nevertheless, some questioned the motive behind the visit and expressed disapproval of certain symbols shown in the senator's photos.
