The Quezon City Police District has filed charges of the Anti Hazing Law of 2018 against six suspects to the death of Ahldryn Bravante, a 4th year student of the Philippine College of Criminology, who died from initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity Monday night.

QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) records showed those slapped with charges were Justin Artates Cantillo, Cavite; Mark Leo Domecillo Andales, both considered Deputy Grand Treskilion (DGT) in their group; Kyle Michael Cordeta De Castro, treasurer, Lexer Angelo Diala Manarpies, the Master Initiator (MI). The five were members of the said fraternity who are now under the QCPD custody.

Investigation revealed that after the initiation rite, the victim had difficulty breathing and became unconscious, prompting suspects Artates and De Castro to rush him to the hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician. This led to the arrest of the two while at 1:10 AM on 17 October 2023, suspects Manarpies and Andales voluntarily surrendered at CIDG QCFU-NCR.

On 18 October, suspects Cantillo and Decastro confessed through the assistance of their counsel Atty. Melvin Bughao, where they revealed the names and addresses of the other members of TAU Gamma Phi.

On the same date, John Xavier Clidoro Arcosa, 18 years old, surrendered to Police Station 1 of this District with the assistance of his parents and is now under the custody of CIDU.

A manhunt operation is being conducted for the possible identification and arrest of the other suspects.

"Patuloy ang QCPD na nananawagan sa lahat ng sangkot sa insidenteng ito, lalo sa 11 na napangalanan na at sa iba pang sangkot na tinutukoy pa ang pagkakakilanlan, sumuko na kayo para matulungan ang pamilya na mabigyan ng katarungan ang pagkasawi ng kanilang anak. Hindi titigil ang ating kapulisan hanggang kayo ay mahuli at mapanagot sa krimen na inyong nagawa," QCPD Director P/Brig.Gen. Redrico Maranan said.

LGU condemns the incident

The Quezon City Government on the other hand strongly condemns the hazing incident involving a student of the Philippine College of Criminology that led to his demise.

"Once again, this incident demonstrates that hazing is a life-threatening practice that violates the principles of human dignity. Physical harm and violence through hazing and other initiation rites should be abhorred and condemned in accordance with RA 11054 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

Maranan meanwhile reminded the public that hazing is a heinous crime with life imprisonment sentence.

"Nais kong ipaalala sa lahat na ang hazing ay isang krimen na nagtataglay ng parusang habang buhay na pagkakabilanggo or reclusion perpetua and a fine raging from two million to three million shall be imposed upon those who actually planned or participated in the hazing if, as a consequence of the hazing, death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation results therefrom," Maranan said.