16 high school students arrested for hazing rites

STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan – The police here arrested 16 minors who were caught in the act of hazing in a house fronting the Daniel Maramba National High School in the Poblacion here Wednesday around 5 p.m.

Superintendent Eric Noble, the town police chief, told The STAR that the police barged inside the house after an informant told them there would be a hazing activity involving high school students. Two of the victims were girls while the rest were all boys.

Two wooden paddles, about three inches long, were also confiscated from the group who belonged to the Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity. Three of the fraternity leaders who were present during the hazing were also minors.

“This is the first time that the local police arrested minors involved in hazing,” Noble said.

The students wearing their school uniforms lined up while being whipped with a paddle.

Noble said he has been going around in Banaoang National High School in Barangay Banaoang because of reports that a group has been recruiting its members there.

Sources said the group had recruited about 30 students there.

The girl recruits were tattooed with a period while boys bore question mark on their right hand.

The police are tracking down the fraternity top leaders as they could also be liable for violating the Anti-Hazing Law even if they were not physically present during the actual hazing, Noble said.

The parents of the arrested students were called by the police and were lectured on how to deal with their children.

Noble said he, the school guidance counselor and the Community Help Educators of Pangasinan under Baby Montemayor will provide counseling to the students.