6 frat members in Salilig’s hazing death charged

MANILA, Philippines — Criminal charges were filed yesterday before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against six fraternity members believed to be involved in the death of Adamson University chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig during hazing rites on Feb. 18.

Tung Cheng Teng, 22;  Earl Anthony Romero, 21; Jerome Balot, 22; Sandro Victorino, 28; Michael Lambert Ritalde, 31, and Mark Pedrosa, 39, were charged with violation of Republic Act 11053 or the anti-hazing law.

The complainants were Salilig’s brother and another person who survived the hazing rites.

The suspects were escorted by lawmen, led by Laguna police director Col. Randy Glenn Silvio, from the Biñan City police station in Laguna where they were detained.

The six are among the 14 members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity tagged in the death of Salilig, 24.

Police took them into custody after another victim, a neophyte who took part in the hazing, identified them as the principal suspects.

Based on autopsy report from the Calabarzon police, Salilig died of “severe blunt force trauma to the lower extremities.”

Police also filed charges of obstruction of justice against Gregorio Cruz, the father of the owner of a sport utility vehicle (SUV), which fraternity members boarded after the hazing.

Cruz allegedly refused to turn over the SUV to the police officers who went to their house in Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City after Salilig was found buried in a shallow grave in Imus City, Cavite on Tuesday.

Biñan police chief Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia said the hazing rites on Feb. 18 started at 1 p.m. at a house in Barangay Casile.

Jopia said Salilig vomited at around 3 p.m. But instead of pulling him out, the suspects still inflicted injuries on him until 5 p.m.

Salilig left for Metro Manila in the SUV, but he died after suffering a seizure.

Jopia said the suspects ruled out bringing Salilig to a hospital and opted to cover their tracks by either burning the victim’s body or burying him in a grave.

The suspects eventually agreed to bury Salilig’s body in a vacant lot in Barangay Malagasang, Imus.

Ten other persons of interest remain at large, Jopia said.

Another fratman surrenders

Another suspect in the death of Salilig surrendered to authorities yesterday.

Daniel Perry, 23, the alleged master initiator during the hazing rites, surrendered to Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla at the provincial capitol in Trece Martires City.

Cavite police director Col. Christopher Olazo said Remulla endorsed Perry to the police for investigation.

Remulla said Perry was among the people who buried Salilig in Imus City.

The suspect surrendered as he was bothered by his conscience, according to Remulla.

NBI, CHR probe hazing

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) launched separate probes on the death of Salilig.

According to NBI spokesperson Giselle Garcia-Dumlao, the bureau’s Death Investigation Department is looking into the case following orders from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Dumlao said a witness has come forward at the NBI.

The CHR said its office in Region IV-A is conducting an investigation on the incident.

The commission called for an urgent action on the case by the Philippine National Police, Commission on Higher Education and other concerned agencies.

Salilig’s remains were flown from Manila to Zamboanga yesterday by the  Philippine Air Force.

Sealed in an aluminum casket, the remains of the Adamson student arrived at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Barangay Sta. Maria.

Salilig’s father, Joefrey, expressed hope that those responsible for his death would be brought to justice.

“We hope that there would be no whitewash in the investigation,” he said.

PAO: No legal aid for fratmen

Fraternity members tagged in the fatal hazing of Salilig failed to secure legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).

At a press briefing yesterday, PAO chief Persida Acosta said the family of Salilig has secured the services of a public lawyer in Biñan, rendering a conflict of interest if another PAO lawyer would be litigating against them.

“Why would we allow a PAO versus PAO scenario? Look for another lawyer. You’ll commit crimes and you want PAO to defend you?” Acosta told the fraternity members.

Acosta disclosed that another fatal hazing involving a student from Cebu is being investigated by authorities.

She said members of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity were also allegedly responsible for the death of Ronnel Baguio, a 20-year-old marine engineering student, who hails from Bataan.

Baguio’s mother, Leny, appeared at the PAO office yesterday. She asked authorities to speed up the investigation on the death of her son.

She said the victim had been enticed by one of his professors to join the fraternity and was subjected to initiation rites on Dec. 10 last year.

“He died from the injuries he suffered weeks after the hazing rites,” she said.

Based on his death certificate, Baguio succumbed to severe respiratory distress syndrome secondary to indirect lung injury and acute kidney injury secondary to rhabdomyolysis. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Mark Ernest Villeza, Elizabeth Marcelo, Roel Pareño, Ed Amoroso