2 Tau Gamma hazing death suspects arrested

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines — Two more members of the Tau Gamma fraternity tagged in the fatal hazing of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig in February were arrested in Cavite on Thursday night.

Justin Ar-Jay Fontanilla, 20, and Armando Hernandez, 21, were apprehended in Barangay Alapan II in Imus and Barangay Amaya 6 in Tanza, respectively.

Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG)-Calabarzon and Cavite police served the arrest warrants issued by Biñan Regional Trial Court Branch 155 Judge Armin Noel Villamonte.

The warrants, dated July 6, were for violating the Anti-Hazing Act.

CIDG director Romeo Caramat said Fontanilla and Hernandez were on the list of most wanted persons in Calabarzon.

Salilig, 24, a chemical engineering student, was reported missing on Feb. 20 after attending the initiation rites of the fraternity. His body was found buried in a shallow grave in Imus on Feb. 28.

A witness told probers that Salilig was hit at least 70 times with a wooden paddle.

Sixteen Tau Gamma fraternity members were said to have conspired and participated in the hazing rites that killed Salilig.

Eight remain at large after seven earlier surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation and two others before the Cavite police. — Emmanuel Tupas