Hazing suspect surrenders

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity suspected of involvement in the fatal hazing of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) student Guillo Servando surrendered last night to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

The suspect, who was not immediately identified, is in the custody of the Department of Justice. He will reportedly serve as a witness.

The NBI said it may file today or tomorrow the case against the suspects in the hazing held on June 28.

According to Senior Police Officer 1 Nilo Sadsad, they are just waiting for the fourth victim of the hazing – a minor who had survived the initiation rites – to formally submit his sworn affidavit either to the Makati police or the NBI.

Sadsad said that even though the NBI is conducting a parallel probe, the Makati police would be the lead agency that would file the case against the suspects for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.

“We want this case to be really air-tight. For that, we need to have really solid evidence and statements from all the victims,” said Sadsad.

Earlier, Servando’s fellow neophytes in the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity – John Paul Raval and Lorenze Agustin – submitted their respective sworn affidavits to authorities.

Their statements provided details of the events leading to the fatal hazing at a house in Barangay Palanan, Makati City.

Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban earlier said he had met with the fathers of the five suspects. Lukban said a member of Tau Gamma Phi arranged the meeting.

“They (fathers) assured me that they want to apologize to the family of the victims and that they would surrender their children who were present during the hazing. They also told me that they would convince the parents of the other suspects to do the same. Kung may makukulong rin naman, gusto nila makulong na lahat (If anyone would be jailed, they want all to be jailed),” Lukban said.

Lukban said that he did not ask for the names of the fathers of the suspects whom he had met with so as not to drive them away. However, he believes the five men are indeed fathers of the suspects.

“We discussed about the consequences of their plan to surrender their children. They told me they would talk about it among themselves and at the same time, try to convince the parents of the other suspects to also surrender their children,” said Lukban.

He said the police are looking at about 13 suspects who were involved in the hazing.

Lukban said they are tracing the real identities of the suspects based on the statement of Raval.

In his statement to the Makati police, Raval named at least 10 members of Tau Gamma Phi as suspects.

Raval said he, Servando, Agustin and the minor met up with members of the Tau Gamma Phi-College of St. Benilde chapter in a fastfood restaurant near the De La Salle University in Manila.

He said they stayed there from noon to 5:30 p.m. before they took a taxicab to the house at 4454 Calatagan St. in Barangay Palanan where the initiation rites were held.

According to Raval, the initiation rites started at around 6 p.m. and lasted until about 9 p.m.

During the initiation rites, Raval, Servando and the two other neophytes were subjected to severe mental and physical punishment.

Raval added that he and the other neophytes were hit and whipped on their legs by the fraternity members using belts and a wooden paddle.

Among the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members identified by Raval as the ones who conducted the initiation were: Cody Morales who was identified as the head or Lord Grand Triskelion; Pope Bautista, Trex Garcia, Hans Tamaring, an alias Navoa, alias Rey Jay, Mike, Kurt, Louie and Emeng, allegedly the master initiator.

Raval said that after the intitiation rites, Tamaring and Garcia brought him and the three other neophytes to his condominium unit at One Archer’s Place on Taft Avenue, Manila.

The two fraternity members, however, left after they failed to revive Servando. Raval called emergency hotline 117 at past 9 p.m.

Investigators from the Manila Police District (MPD), meanwhile, have identified two alleged leaders of Tau Gamma Phi and eight other suspects.

New hazing bill filed

Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday filed a bill that would totally prohibit hazing.

He described his bill as the “Servando Act” after the latest hazing victim.

The measure would repeal the Anti-Hazing Law, Republic Act 8049, which Gatchalian said is toothless and has not prevented deaths from hazing.

He said the present law merely regulates hazing.

His proposed law imposes heavy prison terms and fines on hazing participants, negligent officers of fraternal organizations and schools and owners of properties where hazing activities are conducted.

Proposed penalties for fraternity officers and members involved in hazing include prison term of 12 to 20 years and a fine of P1 million. They would face the same length of imprisonment and a fine of P3 million if they were found under the influence of liquor or illegal drugs.

The penalties increase to life imprisonment and a P5-million fine if hazing results in death, rape, sodomy or mutilation of the victim.

The presence of anyone in the hazing is prima facie evidence of his or her participation in the illegal activity.

A school would be fined P1 million if it approved an initiation in which hazing was done or its representatives were not present or failed to prevent hazing. – With Jess Diaz