2 ‘key witnesses’ to hazing death now in police custody

Mark Andrei Marcos, a San Beda College of Law freshman, has become the latest victim of fraternity hazing. MARCOS FAMILY/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Two “key witnesses” to the suspected hazing that led to the death of San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos were already in the hands of police to help with their ongoing investigations, a police spokesman said Friday.

“They have key witnesses that will strengthen our holdings on the suspects that we are hunting down,” Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman, told reporters in a briefing.

The two witnesses were allegedly present during the initiation rites last Sunday in a cock farm in Dasmariñas City, and are now in the custody of Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao of Cavite provincial police office, news reports said.

In a text message, Calabarzon Regional Commander, Chief Superintendent James Melad, identified the witnesses as Ryan Christopher Maranan and Ephraim Daniel Lara, both first year law students of San Beda College Mendiola.

The police were said to have talked with the relatives of the witnesses for three days before they agreed to cooperate in the investigation.

Police are conducting manhunt operations against one of the suspects, identified as Gian Veluz, the son of the owner of the cock farm where the hazing took place, and the other members of the Lex Leonnum Fraternitas who conducted the initiation.