POLICE probers have filed criminal charges against 16 suspects in the death of a criminology student during a fraternity hazing rite in Quezon City last Monday.
The Quezon City Police District (QCPD), meanwhile, announced the surrender of two more suspects in the hazing, bringing to six the number of suspects currently in police custody.
The QCPD said John Xavier Clidoro Arcosa surrendered last Wednesday, accompanied by his parents. The other suspect, John Arvin Kaylle Regualos Diocena, surrendered to the QCPD yesterday.
The four suspects previously taken into police custody were Justine Cantillo Artates, Kyle Michael De Castro, Lexer Angelo Diala Manarpies and Mark Leo Domecillo Andales.
Artates and De Castro were arrested last Monday night at the Chinese General Hospital in Manila where they brought Ahldryn Bravante, a 25-year-old criminology student, who lost consciousness during the hazing rite.
Manarpies and Andales surrendered to the police last Tuesday.
Artates, De Castro, Manarpies, Andales, Arcosa and Diocena were among the 16 suspects charged last Wednesday with violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, and robbery before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
Artates and De Castro are said to be the Deputy Grand Treskilion of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity-PCCR chapter while De Castro and Manarpies are the treasurer and master initiator, respectively, of the group.
Artates and De Castro executed extra-judicial confessions last Tuesday and are fully cooperating in the continuing police investigation of the case.
The QCPD has launched manhunt operations against the remaining suspects in the death of Bravante.
“The PNP will not stop until you are arrested and held accountable for the crime you committed,” said QCPD chief Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.
Maranan also appealed to other suspects to surrender.
Earlier yesterday, the Quezon City government ordered the QCPD to locate the other suspects while extending its condolences to the family and friends of Bravante.
“The local government will work in coordination with the QCPD to ensure those responsible will be held accountable,” the QC government said in a statement.
“Also, we directed the QCPD to locate and hold accountable the others involved in this crime,” the QC government added.
The QC government condemned the hazing of Bravante, who sustained hematoma on both of his legs and had cigarette burns on his chest and hands.
“Once again, this incident demonstrates that hazing is a life-threatening practice that violates the principles of human dignity,” it said
“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,” it added.
ZUBIRI WEIGHS IN
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday called on authorities to ensure the arrest and speedy prosecution of all those responsible for the fatal hazing of Bravante.
“This senseless death of another young student due to barbaric fraternity tradition is not only enraging but frustrating as well as it happened despite our efforts to put more teeth to the law against fraternity hazing,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri said the death of Bravante happened barely eight months after John Matthew Salilig, 22, died during the hazing rites of the Tau Gamma Phi, the same fraternity responsible for Bravante’s death.
He said such deaths should be stopped.
“Needless to say, the full force of the law must come down on those soulless people who killed the same person they claim to be as their brother… We should put an end to these acts of savagery. Let’s ensure that those who mock our system of justice would be made to account for their misdeeds,” he added.
Zubiri shepherded the passage of Republic Act No. RA 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, after Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, then a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, was beaten to death by members of the Aegis Juris fraternity in 2017. — With Raymond Africa
