Laguna ‘hazing’ victim ‘determined’ to press charges

SAN PEDRO CITY –– The family of the criminology student, who allegedly underwent fraternity hazing rites in San Pablo City in Laguna province, was “determined” to sue those behind it, the police said Saturday.

As of Saturday, the victim, Jonathan Cabueños, was already “in a stable condition” although he remained confined at the Chinese General Hospital in Manila.

“(Cabueños) was stammering as he spoke to our investigators. Doctors said he suffered from a stroke caused by a clot in the brain. He was 18, but the way he talked seemed he was just like an eight or seven-year-old,” said San Pablo city police chief Lt. Col. Eliseo Bernales, in a phone interview.

Bernales said Cabueños, a student of the Laguna State Polytechnic University in San Pablo City, underwent a “series” of initiation rites since September 15.

Cabueños told police he would be taken to an undisclosed location blindfolded where he would be beaten up, hit with a paddle, and burned with candle wax on the back.

On September 24, Cabueños was at the school’s gym when he collapsed and brought to a community hospital in the city.

He was transferred to another hospital in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and later to Manila.

The incident came following the case of a Philippine Military Academy cadet, who died due to hazing.

Bernales said they were still establishing the identities of those responsible for Cabueños condition and may file charges for violation of the anti-hazing law./lzb