MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will file a case against four members of the Philippine College of Criminology chapter of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity for the fatal hazing of fourth-year criminology student Ahldryn Bravante.
QCPD investigators have also started tracking other Tau Gamma Phi members who might also be linked to Bravante’s death, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, QCPD chief, said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
“As of now, the four suspects are in the custody of the QCPD CIDU [ Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit] while a thorough investigation and search for others involved in this incident continues. The suspects will be charged for violating [Republic Act] 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law,” Maranan said in Filipino.
He reminded fraternity members that hazing is a crime and those who “planned or participated” in this offense that resulted in “death, rape, and sodomy,” among others, will be meted with a punishment of life imprisonment and a fine ranging from P2 million to P3 million.
READ: PCCR suspends classes a day after student died due to alleged hazing
Earlier Tuesday, the QCPD identified the four suspects as Justine Artates, 20; Kyle Michael Cordeta, 21; Lexer Angelo Manarpies, 20; and Mark Leo Andales, 20.
The four frat members performed initiation rites on 25-year-old Bravante in an abandoned building at the corner of Sto. Domingo Avenue and Calamba Street, Quezon City, around 2 p.m. on Monday.
After the rites, Bravante struggled to breathe and lost consciousness. He was brought to the Chinese General Hospital in Manila around 6:40 p.m. and was declared dead on arrival.
A cursory examination by the police showed that Bravante had a hematoma on both legs and burn marks on his chest and hands, apparently caused by cigarettes.