Senior high school student dies in Zamboanga City frat initiation

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines  — A senior high school student of Zamboanga City High School West died during fraternity hazing in the morning of Sunday, Nov. 15, in Barangay San Jose Gusu in this city.

The student — Joselito Fernandez Envidiado of Barangay San Jose Gusu — “died in the initiation,” according to Maj. Yashier Sarikin, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office.

Police first arrested the suspected master initiator of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, Marcelino Elmido Viñas Jr., 28, who brought the student to the Zamboanga City Medical Center.

In the afternoon, they arrested the seven other suspects whom Sarikin identified as Ruben Rizada Sebastian, Roldan Misal Paler, 28; John Dale Ong Bulalacad, 22; Eryan Viola Alabata, 20; Xavierwyn Rizada Sebastian, 19; Cleven Tumazar Atis, 27; Fidel Bellamayor Cubol, 27; and Azis Rojas Camlian, 20.

Sarikin said the initiation was held at Cubol’s house.

According to him, Envidiado’s body was covered with bruises, and authorities recovered one brown paddle measuring more or less 108 centimeters wrapped with a red sack.

Sai Cortez, barangay councilor of San Jose Gusu, said officials did not tolerate hazing in their village.

“We discouraged hazing in our barangay,” he said. “This one was secretly done in one of the houses. Even one of our colleagues who stayed adjacent to Cubol’s residence was unaware of what was going on.”

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