Police have identified at least10 possible suspects in the fatal hazing of a fourth-year criminology student during an initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity in an abandoned building in Quezon City on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for stronger school action against hazing as he sought justice for the latest victim, Ahldryn Bravante, a student of the Philippine College of Criminology.
Quezon City Police District chief Rederico Maranan said the closed circuit televisions in the vicinity of Sto. Domingo Avenue and Calamba Street in Barangay Sto. Domingo, spotted 20
“So we would like to assume for now that they were the participants, but still we would want to establish strong pieces of evidence,” he said.
Maranan said they still have to make a validation if these “persons of interest” were really at the crime site, and if the paddle used to hit the 25-year-old Bravante, was really thrown into river at the Nagtahan Bridge.
Based on initial investigation, authorities said Bravante was beaten with a paddle for more than 60 times during the two-hour hazing activity.
Gatchalian cited the imperative role of schools in safeguarding students from the perils of hazing.
He also emphasized the legal obligation of educational institutions to take proactive measures.
Under the Anti-Hazing Law, Gatchalian said schools were mandated not only to protect their students, but also to launch informational campaigns at the start of every semester or trimester among students, parents, and guardians on the adverse consequences of hazing.
Gatchalian said he joined the family of the victim in seeking justice for the victim.
He also called on authorities to ensure that those involve in the death of Bravante will be held liable before the law.
Gatchalian was the co-author and co-sponsor of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 (Republic Act No. 11053).
Police reports said Bravante was subjected to fraternity initiation rites in an abandoned Quezon City condominium.
He died of Hematoma at the Chinese General Hospital, where he was taken after the initiation rites.
Four suspects were so far arrested and placed in the custody of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
Gatchalian said the anti-hazing law prohibits all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools, including citizens’ military training and citizens’ army training.
The law imposes the penalty of reclusion perpetua and a fine of P3 million upon those who actually planned or participated in hazing that result in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation.
