Hazing victim’s kin believe fraternity members in hiding are guilty

MANILA, Philippines – Members of Lex Leonum Fraternitas who have been tagged in the death of San Beda College of Law freshman Marc Andrei Marcos have not shown up for their classes at the San Beda College for two weeks now, leading the family of the latest hazing victim to believe that they are guilty of the crime.

Marcos’ uncle, lawyer Jose Ibarra, told Radyo Inquirer 990AM in an interview on Monday that some 30 members of the fraternity whose names have been included in the list of suspects have not shown up for class for two weeks. “Malaking indicator ito ng guilt—na halos dalawang lingo na [silang] hindi nagpapakita.”

He said that their family has reached a decision to lodge complaints against the members of the fraternity suspected of conducting the initiation rites which led to the 20-year-old law student’s death. “Consensus ng pamilya na kakasuhan namin kahit neophyte kung hindi sila makikipagtulungan (It is the family’s consensus that it will file cases even against neophytes if they refuse to help) .”

Marcos died last July 30 at the De La Salle University Medical Center after going through initiation rites at a farm in Dasmariñas City.

Alumni of the fraternity have not directly spoken to the Marcoses, said Ibarra who pointed out that sending a wreath during his nephew’s wake was not enough. He said that what they needed from the alumni was information which would lead the authorities to the whereabouts of the suspects.

What bothered Ibarra and the rest of the Marcos clan was the revelation that some of the suspects in the death of hazing victim Marvin Reglos remained free and have not been expelled by the school.

Reglos was another San Beda law freshman who died during a fraternity hazing in February this year.

Ibarra urged the school to show resolve in dealing with Marcos and Reglos’ cases by “immediately expelling those involved. Sana huling victim na si Marc Andrei (we hope Marc Andrei would eb the last victim).”

For more of the interview, listen to Radyo Inquirer 990AM.