By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. on Friday urged members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity responsible for the alleged hazing death of a college freshman in Cavite to surrender and face the charges against them.
In a press briefing at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Nartatez urged those involved to give themselves up to the authorities to answer for the alleged crimes they were involved in.
“Of course, as soon as possible they will surrender. They can do it themselves or through the Tau Gamma. This is important so that once and for all, we can solve this,” Nartatez said.
He said investigations are still ongoing despite the earlier reports of evidence tampering following a fire that occurred on the crime scene.
“The provincial director, chief of police and the different investigators there have come together to identify everyone and they will have their recommendation, especially referring this case to the prosecutor whether they are suspects or victims,” the PNP chief said.
He said there are at least 21 individuals involved, and investigators are piecing together what really transpired.
“Remember, per the hazing law, when you are a victim you will also be punished. No one will be left here who cannot be punished,” Nartatez said.
Remulla also urged the suspects to surrender as soon as possible after he met with the national leaders of the Tau Gamma Phi (TGP) fraternity.
“They have promised to cooperate fully and to reform the culture of violence in their initiations in order to make this better,” Remulla said at the briefing. “But, first of all, it is the accountability of the 21 [suspects and persons of interests] that is important.”
The Interior Secretary, reading a police report from the Cavite Provincial Police Office, identified 14 of the suspects and persons of interest as: John Ferson Cabrera; Archie Rosil; Felix Martin Dala; John Rey Torrecampo; John Lee Tuilao; John Vicent Malipot; Niel Nicholas Rapatan; John; Michael Jagonoy; Dar Sabilona; Zidane Manglanlan; Gabriel Vergara; Kurt dela Cruz; Alias Kenneth Ompod; Alias Mark.
The other suspects and persons of interest remain John Does, according to Remulla.
He also identified two more neophytes who were also allegedly hazed during the purported rites as Jedrick Solomon Bornea and Joel Marce Garcia Jr.
Remulla said they will be charged in court for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act, and warrants of arrest will be issued against them.
“Ngayon nakikiusap ako sa sinabi kong mga pangalan: unahan niyo na mag-surrender kayo kaysa habulin namin kayo. Para rin sa Samahan din ng Tau Gamma Phi, kung gusto niyong maayos ang pangalan ng inyong Samahan, ng inyong kapatiran, unahiin niyo na na mag-surrender kayo (I appeal to the persons I just named: surrender now or we will run after you. Also, for the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, if you want to clean the name of your fraternity, of your brotherhood, surrender now),” he said.
“You’re all young. 18, 19 years old. You all still have much to do in your lives. Cooperate with us. Let’s fix this. You still have hope. You can still fix this,” he added.
Also present during the press briefing was Martin Asturias, TGP head National Judicial Council and spokesperson, who assured Remulla of the fraternity leadership’s cooperation in the investigation.
“We will conduct expulsion proceedings towards the perpetrators. With the conversation we had with Secretary Remulla, we’ve given our word that we will cooperate with the local authorities and the DILG to get this resolved. Again, we gave our word, so we will keep it and assist the local authorities,” Asturias said.
The Tau Gamma Phi official condemned the incident and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
According to Asturias, they have relieved the officers of its Cavite and Dasmariñas City chapters, though he has yet to receive word on whether the order has already been implemented.
“We are still conducting our own internal investigation, but from last what I’ve heard, the current provincial and city officers have been relieved and we are putting in caretaker officers that will ensure that we find out and get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.
Asturias also stressed that the organization had “explicitly told” all its local chapters to abide by RA 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law during their congress in November 2023, months after its members were implicated in the fatal hazing of chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig, whose body was also found in Cavite. (PNA)
