Marcos assures hazing victim’s family of justice

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday assured the family of slain Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig of justice, saying there should be no violence within student organizations.

“I extend my sympathies to John Matthew Salilig’s family during this extremely difficult time and assure them that justice will be served. John was a child, a brother, a friend, a classmate and a son of this nation, with a bright future ahead of him,” Marcos said in a Facebook post.

“It is not through violence that we can measure the strength of our brotherhood. There should be no room for violence in our student organizations which our children consider family, and in our schools which they consider their second home,” he added.

P.5-M reward

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez yesterday offered a reward of P500,000 for anyone who can give information that would lead to the arrest of those responsible for the death of Salilig.

“Brothers do not kill their brothers. Fraternity-related or not, any crime that results in death deserves utmost condemnation,” Romualdez said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe on the death of Salilig.

Senators also denounced in the strongest terms the death by hazing of Salilig.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri described the death of Salilig as “senseless, barbaric.”

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa urged school authorities to provide measures to prevent students from being victims of hazing.

“I am not for banning fraternities, but the fraternities themselves should police their ranks,” Dela Rosa said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum. – Delon Porcalla, Neil Jayson Servallos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Sheila Crisostomo