Four suspects in the death of a 25-year-old student of the Philippine College of Criminology due to hazing, surrendered to the Quezon City Police District yesterday.
QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan identified the victim as Aldryn Leary Bravante, PCCR 4th year Criminology Student, resident of Imus, Cavite, who sustained scars in different parts of the body and severe contusion at the back of his thigh which appears to be due to paddling.
The alleged hazing as part of the initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity happened on Monday in an abandoned building located along Calamba Street, Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City.
Bravante was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital by the suspects Justin Artatez and Kyle Michael Ordeta, both third-year students of the PCCR after the victim became unconscious following the initiation rites. He was declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.
During the interview with the victim's companions, Artatez and De Castro, said that they were members of Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity, PCCR Chapter and the victim was a neophyte who received an initiation rite from the frat members. However, after the initiation rite, the victim had difficulty in breathing and became unconscious.
The two suspects were immediately placed under arrest for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
The SOCO Team from QCPD Forensic Unit arrived and conducted the technical aspect of the investigation. Six bottles of water were collected as evidence.
A cursory examination showed that the victim sustained hematoma on both legs and marks of burned cigarette on his chest and both hands. The cadaver is still at the hospital morgue.
Meanwhile, around 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday two suspects Lexer Angelo Diala Manarpies and Mark Leo Domecillo Andales voluntarily surrendered at the office of CIDG QCFU-NCR and they were later turned over for investigation.
The suspects may face charges for violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law and may be penalized with lifetime imprisonment.
Last March, the PNP called on fraternities operating in academic institutions to adopt a strict anti-hazing policy pursuant to Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law.
Maranan, who was the PNP public information office chief said under the law, school officials should communicate with the families of the students and should also work with PNP.
The PNP has recorded a total of 178 incidents of hazing since 2012.