(Photo from Cavite PPO)
MANILA, Philippines — The fraternity members allegedly behind the death by hazing of 24-year-old Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig initially planned to burn the victim’s body instead of burying it, according to the police.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Jopia, acting chief of the Biñan City police, on Friday said the suspects had a meeting in Parañaque City to discuss ways to dispose of Salilig’s remains.
“Kaya nakita na ang ating victim ay naka hubo’t hubad dahil ang una nilang plano ay sunugin (That’s why when the victim was naked when was discovered since they first planned to burn his body),” Jopia said in an interview on ABS-CBN News.
He pointed out that the fraternity members resorted to dumping Salilig’s remains in an open field in Imus, Cavite, most likely because the flames from burning his body would draw more attention.
Police found Salilig’s battered and decomposing body in a vacant lot in Barangay Malagasang 10 days after he went missing.
An autopsy report indicated that he died due to “severe blunt force trauma in the lower extremities.”
Jopia said that even an alumni of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, who took part in the initiation rites, pushed to bury Salilig’s remains.
“Wala talaga sa choice nila iyong dalhin na lang ito sa ospital o iwan nalang somewhere para at least, makita agad ng authorities. Para at least, mabigyan ng paunang solusyon. Instead, binaon talaga nila,” he said.
(They never planned to bring him to hospital or leave his body in a place where authorities can spot him right away. So at least, we can immediately resolve it. But instead, they buried him.)
Jopia then bared that Salilig was experiencing diarrhea while in the middle of the welcoming rites.
“Napadumi iyong ating biktima. Tapos sumunod na noon iyong namutla siya hanggang sa sumuka siya, nagtuloy-tuloy pa rin iyong kanilang initiation,” he said.
(The victim defecated and then, he turned pale until he vomited. But the initiation continued.)
Jopia cited the statements of witnesses, who said Salilig was still asked if he could proceed with the initiation–to which, he said yes.
He also noted that it was only when they were on their way back to Manila when Salilig had a seizure and expired.
Six Tau Gamma members–Earl Anthony Romero, Tung Cheng Teng, Jerome Balot, Sandro Victorino, Michael Lambert Ritalde and Mark Pedrosa–are facing formal complaints for Salilig’s death.
Salilig’s brother, John Michael, and Roi Osmond Tuazon dela Cruz, a 21-year-old neophyte who reportedly underwent hazing with Salilig, were named complainants.