Davao student dies in hazing rites; 8 fraternity members held

DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines — Eight members of Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) fraternity were arrested following the death of a 19-year-old criminology student of the University of Mindanao (UM) who underwent hazing rites on Sunday, police said.

Reports said members of a government rescue team failed to revive August Ceazar Saplot when they reached the house of one of the fraternity members in Mandug, Buhangin District, at 3:10 p.m. The group went to the house to rest after the initiation rites that started at 11 a.m., according to a report by Brig. Gen. Benjamin Silo Jr., regional director of the Police Regional Office 11.

Another student, Michael Angelo Ligaya, 18, incurred serious injuries and was taken to Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) for treatment.

Ligaya told the police that he and Saplot were “pledgees” of the Akrho-Alpha Delta chapter. They went through the initiation rites at a vacant lot reportedly owned by the family of George Regalado, a fraternity member, at Kinto Limbo, Barangay Santo Niño.

Banned

Ligaya said Saplot collapsed when they were at Regalado’s house, prompting their companions to call the city government’s 911 ambulance.

Police arrested Jeremiah Moya, 23, president of the fraternity’s Alpha Delta chapter; Leji Wensdy Quibuyen, 22, master initiator; John Lloyd Sumagang, 25, chapter vice president; Harold Joshua Flauta, 22; John Steven Silvosa, 18; Ramel John Gamo, 24; Gilbert Asoy Jr., 20; and Roseller Gaentano, 25.

Police recovered a black leather belt and two fraternity application forms but did not find the wooden paddle used during the initiation rites. Six other fraternity members who participated in the rites escaped.

UM condemned the incident, saying “all fraternities have been banned from the university since the enactment of the Republic Act No. 8049, or the Anti-Hazing Law.”

—REPORTS FROM GERMELINA LACORTE AND CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO 

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