4 suspects in criminology student’s hazing death in QCPD’s custody

MANILA, Philippines — Four suspects in the alleged hazing that led to the death of a Philippine College of Criminology student are already under police custody, according to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).

A QCPD report Tuesday said the suspects were identified as Justine Artates, 20; Kyle Michael Cordeta, 21; Lexer Angelo Manarpies, 20; and Mark Leo Andales, 20 — all members of Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity-Philippine College of Criminology Chapter.

The four frat members performed initiation rites on 25-year-old victim Ahldryn Bravante, a fourth-year criminology student, in an abandoned building at the corner of Sto. Domingo Avenue and Calamba Street, Quezon City, around 2 p.m. on Monday.

Citing Artates and Cordeta’s accounts, police said the victim struggled to breathe and lost consciousness following the alleged hazing rituals. The two suspects brought Bravante to the Chinese General Hospital in Manila around 6:40 p.m., but he was declared dead on arrival.

After this, the hospital staff sought the assistance of the Manila Police District, which led to the apprehension of Artates and Cordeta.

QCPD said its Forensic Unit team conducted a technical aspect investigation at the abandoned building and collected six bottles of water as pieces of evidence.

It added that a cursory examination conducted on Bravante showed that he had sustained hematoma on both legs and marks of burned cigarettes on his chest and hands.

On the other hand, the two other suspects, Manarpies and Andales, voluntarily surrendered to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Quezon City Field Unit-National Capital Region’s office at 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Police said investigations are ongoing, and it has yet to determine what cases to file against the four suspects.

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