17 persons of interest tagged in hazing death
MANILA, Philippines — The third year college student of Adamson University who died in fraternity initiation rites in Biñan City, Laguna suffered at least 70 blows to the body, police said yesterday.
The third year college student of Adamson University who died in fraternity initiation rites in Biñan City, Laguna suffered at least 70 blows to the body, police said yesterday.
A witness told probers that chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig, 24, was hit at least 70 times with a wooden paddle, according to Biñan police chief Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia.
Jopia said there are 17 persons of interest in Salilig’s hazing, seven of whom were taken into police custody. The others remain at large.
He said 14 suspects directly delivered the blows while three were Salilig’s companions who took part in the hazing.
Jopia said the paddle, which has yet to be recovered, has a length of one meter and width of six to eight inches thick, based on the witness’ accounts.
Laguna police director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said the persons of interest are members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.
Salilig was last seen by his family on Feb. 18. His decomposing body was found buried in a vacant lot in Barangay Malagasang in Imus City, Cavite on Tuesday.
Based on their investigation, Silvio said Salilig and other students were subjected to initiation rites from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 18.
The perpetrators stopped inflicting more injuries to Salilig after he vomited and defecated, probers said. Fraternity members then brought him to a sport utility vehicle (SUV) where he lost consciousness.
“Inikot-ikot na siya sa Parañaque hanggang nag-decide sila na itapon at ilibing sa Cavite,” Silvio said.
He said those involved might have panicked and decided not to bring Salilig to a hospital.
Silvio said most of the perpetrators are young, with the president of the fraternity only 22 years old.
Police seized the SUV from Gregorio Cruz in Parañaque City yesterday, according to Col. Redrico Maranan, public information officer of the Philippine National Police.
The father of the vehicle’s owner was taken into police custody for investigation, according to Silvio.
Silvio said they initially asked the family of the SUV owner to surrender the vehicle, but they refused and demanded that police secure a search warrant.
Call for justice
Student organizations from Adamson University demanded justice and accountability following the death of Salilig.
In a statement, student groups led by the Adamson University student government urged the school’s administration to take “bolder steps toward the search for truth.”
“We strongly urge the people involved to speak nothing but the truth about the incident. To speak ambiguously of the case only protects the offenders behind this heinous crime. It is only right for his story to be heard,” read the statement.
“The administration should impose sanctions on all concerned parties, in line with the university’s 2018 student manual and the law, without any exemption,” it added.
Salilig’s eldest brother, John Michael, said he was surprised that the no one among fraternity members tried to save the victim.
John Michael said he received information that among the suspects, one person suggested bringing the victim to the hospital.
“But the idea was shut down,” Michael, who is also a member of Tau Gamma Phi, said in an interview on dzBB. – Janvic Mateo, Ghio Ong, Ralph Edwin Villanueva