QCPD logo. Image from QCPD website
MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) on Thursday filed a case for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law against 16 members of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity-Philippine College of Criminology Chapter who were allegedly involved in the death of 4th-year criminology student Ahldryn Bravante.
QCPD said two suspects in its custody, namely Justine Artates, 20, and Kyle Michael Cordeta, 21, gave their extrajudicial confession through the assistance of their legal counsel, which led to the identification of 12 other fraternity members.
On the same day, one of the 12 identified — 18-year-old John Xavier Arcosa surrendered to authorities, bringing the number of suspects under police custody to five.
“The suspects were charged for violation of R.A. (Republic Act) 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, and robbery before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office,” QCPD said in a statement.
“A manhunt operation is being conducted for the possible identification and arrest of the other suspects,” it added.
Based on police reports, Artates and Cordeta, along with Lexer Angelo Manarpies, 20, and Mark Leo Andales, 20, performed the initiation rites of Bravante in an abandoned building at the corner of Sto. Domingo Avenue and Calamba Street, Quezon City, around 2 p.m. on Monday.
Following the alleged hazing rites, the student struggled to breathe and lost consciousness. He was brought to Chinese General Hospital in Manila around 6:40 p.m., where he was declared dead on arrival.
Police’s cursory examination showed that he had sustained hematoma on both legs and marks of burned cigarettes on his chest and hands.