Fraternity chief faces hazing probers

The veil of secrecy over the death of a San Beda College student, the son of a farmer from Isabela, has begun to part.

A leader of the Lambda Rho Beta fraternity, whose members are being linked to the fatal hazing of law school freshman Marvin Reglos, surfaced Thursday at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Eduardo Escobal II came forward as the fraternity issued a statement pledging “full cooperation in the parallel investigations being conducted” by the NBI and the Antipolo City police.

In a press conference after a meeting with Escobal, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the fraternity’s “Grand Rhoan” was “invited to shed light on the incident in order to aid and guide our investigators because the family of the victim has sought our help.”

But De Lima stressed that “at this moment, he is not yet a suspect so he is not being treated as one. But he will be subjected to questioning by the investigators. There are no charges yet against him and therefore, after questioning by our investigators, we cannot yet detain him.”

Accompanied by lawyer Redemberto Villanueva, Escobal left the NBI without executing a statement. He did not speak when presented to the media.

De Lima said three other fraternity members had expressed their intention to help in the investigation.

In a statement read by the fraternity’s spokesperson, lawyer Ariel Radovan, the organization expressed regret over Reglos’ death and pledged to assist his grieving family.

“Lambda Rho Beta fraternity does not tolerate hazing. We denounce hazing or any other barbaric act executed on neophytes of the fraternity. This principle has always been ingrained in and frequently reiterated to all our brothers,” Radovan said, adding:

“To show our earnestness in shedding light on this unfortunate incident, we have formed our own fact-finding committee and the fraternity assures everyone that they will be as vigilant as the family of Mr. Reglos in going after those who are responsible for his death and seeing them behind bars, may they be members or not.”

Reglos, 25, was declared dead on arrival on Sunday at the Unciano Medical Center in Antipolo City from injuries allegedly suffered in the fraternity’s hazing rites held at a local resort.

San Sebastian College students Eric Castillo and Bodjie Yap, two of the four suspects identified by police, were indicted for murder Thursday in a resolution approved by city prosecutor Lorna Lee.

The two other suspects, Arjay Gregena and Juffali Abddulah, remained at large. With a report from Kristine Felisse Mangunay