San Beda expels 27 fratmen in hazing

Marc Andre Marcos. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARCOS FAMILY

San Beda College (SBC) has expelled 27 members of Lex Leonum Fraternitas in connection with the death caused by hazing of freshman law student Marc Andre Marcos on a farm in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province.

Marcos, 21, a native of Ramos, Tarlac province, succumbed to severe injuries while being treated at De La Salle University Medical Center on July 30, a day after the fraternity rites.

SBC’s seven-member committee on student conduct also suspended three other fraternity members and five neophytes.

Another student, Jade Ashley Manguera, was cleared for lack of evidence.

Expelled were Erich Justine Alano, Julius Arsenio Alcancia, Mohammad Fyzee Alim, Chino Daniel Amante, Daniel Baltazar, Rem Cabangon, Manuel Adrian Cabansag, Dexter Circa, Aldrian Robert David, Aardan Mikhail Kutch dela Cruz, Jason Esguerra, Bjone Carlo Favorito, Ralph Juico, Levy John Lalusis, Cornelio Marcelo, Michael Jethro Opelanio, Kenneth Rafols, John Cromwell Recto, Lorenzo Marvin Reyes, John Ray Rivera, Reynaldo Anthony Marc Rodriguez, Richard Rosales, Vyron Samson, Emmanuel Jefferson Santiago, Idony Tan, Jenno Antonio Villanueva and Aloysius Yebra.

On Aug. 22, police in Cavite filed murder charges against 37 people, including Angelito Veluz and his wife Violeta, who own the farm in Dasmariñas. Also charged was the couple’s son Gian Angelo Veluz, a fraternity member.

It was not immediately ascertained if those expelled were among those charged.

In a 13-page ruling dated Oct. 23, the committee said that Marcos’ “untimely demise is absolutely a loss to San Beda College of Law and to the whole legal profession as well.”

“The committee will ensure, however, that his death will not be meaningless, but instead will serve as a symbol of hope and an inspiration to become better Christian lawyers,” said the ruling, a copy of which was obtained by the Inquirer yesterday.

“Marc Andre Marcos will always be remembered as long as love reigns in our hearts.”

David Anthony Aranas, Rom-Raison Go and Eryl Royce Nagtalon, who renounced their membership in the fraternity, were suspended for 21 school days and ordered to render 72 hours of community service.

The committee said the three had “shown remorse and have manifested a strong desire to rectify their misdeed of joining an unrecognized organization which is prohibited under the code of conduct.”

“Undeniably, Lex Leonum employs physical violence during its initiation rites,” it said, pointing out that this is prohibited under the school’s code of conduct. “San Beda College has no choice but to impose the maximum administrative sanction when the moral depravity of the student concerned is so grave as to be beyond redemption,” it added.

Five neophytes who testified during the hearings on Sept. 19, 21, 26 and Oct. 14 that they underwent initiation were suspended for seven school days and ordered to render 36 hours of community service.  Reynaldo Dalisay Jr., Ephraim Daniel Lara, Enrico Lopez, Christopher Ryan Maranan and Jan Marcel Ragaza said they were made to believe that Lex Leonum’s initiation process was “solemn and reasonable.”