By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan | Philippine News Agency
Four suspects in the alleged death of a 25-year-old student via hazing are now under police custody, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said Tuesday.
In a report, QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan said Justin Artates, Kyle Michael de Castro, Lexer Angelo Manarpies and Mark Leo Andales are being held for the death of Aldryn Leary Bravante, a 4th year Criminology student of the Philippine College of Criminology (PCCR).
Maranan said Bravante bore scars in different parts of his body and had a severe contusion at the back of his thigh.
Investigation showed that the alleged hazing was held as part of the initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in an abandoned building on Calamba St., Barangay Santo Domingo, Quezon City at around 2:00 p.m. Monday.
Bravante was rushed to the Chinese General Hospital by Artates and de Castro, both 3rd year students of PCCR, after he became unconscious following the initiation rites. He was then declared dead on arrival by an attending physician.
The incident was reported by the hospital’s personnel to the Manila Police District’s Blumentritt station.
During the interview with Artates and de Castro, police officers found out that they were members of Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity, PCCR Chapter and the victim was a neophyte who received an initiation rite from the fraternity members.
The two students also said after the initiation rites, the victim had difficulty in breathing and became unconscious.
The police arrested the two college students for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.
The case was turned over to the QCPD which proceeded with the investigation.
A cursory examination showed that the victim had hematoma on his both legs and marks of burned cigarette on his chest and both hands. The cadaver is still at the hospital morgue.
At around 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, Manarpies and Andales surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group’s Quezon City Field Unit and were later subjected to investigation.
The suspects may face charges for the violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law and may be meted with life imprisonment if convicted. (PNA)
