LAW ENFORCERS arrested eight members of a fraternity for the alleged death of a neophyte during an initiation activity in Mandug on Sunday.
The report said that aside from August Ceazar Saplot, who was found dead, another neophyte of the Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity, Alpha Delta Chapter was also seriously injured.
The report said the Mandug Police Station received a phone call about a body found in Purok Santo Nino, Sison Village, Upper Mandug. It was eventually identified as that of Saplot, a fourth year Criminology student of the University of Mindanao.
The responding police team also arrested Jeremiah Obedencia Moya; Leji Wensdy Ofecio Quibuyen; John Lloyd Garciano Sumagang; Harold Joshua Sagaral Flauta; John Steven Baltazar Silvosa; Ramel John Potenciano Gamo; Gilbert Escodero Asoy, Jr; and Roseller Andres Gaentano, all members of the fraternity.
The suspects, and several others who were able to flee the site of the activity, will face a complaint for violation of the Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. Those who were able to escape, the police report said, were Ryan James Ranolo; Harold Gocotano; John Bacacao; Cherie Norico; Kadjo Matobato and George M. Regalado, the report added.
Immediately after the incident, the university issued a statement condemning the killing of its student as it expressed its support to the investigators for the immediate resolution of the case.
“UM strongly condemns the senseless and deplorable incident in the highest possible consternation and dismay, as the university is also offering its unqualified grief to the victims’ families,” it said.
Confirming that those involved were also its students, it pointed out that it has banned fraternities from its premises since the passage of the law against hazing.
“UM is sternly intolerant of fraternities and hazing which only foster the culture of violence, which is an anathema to the core values and conducive learning environment that the university upholds since 1946,” it added.
