Sons of 2 NBI officials linked to law stude’s death

The sons of two high-ranking officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were among those charged for the death of a San Beda student, Marc Andre Marcos, who died in  hazing rites last month.

Nonnatus Rojas, NBI director,  identified the suspects as Levi Lalusis,  son of lawyer  Danielito Lalusis, executive officer of the bureau’s Death Investigation Division, and Ray Jacinto Vigilia, son of lawyer Rustico Vigilia, NBI-regional director of Region1V-A.

Violators of the antihazing law are not allowed to post bail.

“The fathers are professionals and, following the bureau’s policy, did not intervene in the investigation,” said Rojas.

Rojas added that one of the fraternity members who participated in the rites had turned state witness and could qualify under the Witness Protection Security and Benefits Program Office of the Department of Justice.

The NBI chief said 36 members (not 32 as initially reported)  of the San Beda College of Law’s Lex Leonum Fraternitas in Manila and Alabang were charged with violation of the antihazing law in the Dasmariñas, Cavite Prosecutor’s Office.

Twenty-two of those charged are from San Beda-Alabang and  the other 10 from San Beda-Manila.  Four others remain unidentified.

Recommended for prosecution were  officers and members of the fraternity: Jenno Antonio Villanueva, Head/Most Exalted Lion of Lex Leonum Fraternitas, Gian Angelo Veluz, Vice Head, Emmanuel Jefferson Santiago, Vice Head/Vice Most Exalted,  Richard Rosales, Mohamad Fyzee Alim, Chino Daniel Amante, Julius Arsenio Alcancia, Edrich Gomez,  Rem Cabangon, Ralph Juico, Reynold Anthony Marc Rodriguez, alias Ramm  Adrian Robert David,  BJone Carlo Favorito,  John Cromwell Recto, Dexter Circa,  Lorenzo Marvin Reyes.

The other  accused were neophytes  Enrico Lopez, Reynaldo Dalisay Jr., Jason Marquez Esguerra,  Daniel Baltazar  Jr., John Ray Rivera, Manuel Adrian,  Jan Marcel Ragaza, Ephraim Daniel Lara, Christopher Ryan Maranan.

Members at Alabang Campus were identified as  Karl Eugene Umerez, Glenn Meduen, Ralph Jireh Bartolome, alias Jai,  Raphael Cesar Buenaobra.

Other charged were  alias Ton-Ton, alias Fidel, E.R. and Paulo.

Based on the charge sheet, Marcos sustained  extensive traumatic injuries of the lower and upper extremities due to hazing on July 29, 2012, at the Veluz farm located at  Barangay Zone III, Dasmariñas City, Cavite province.

Based on NBI records,   the group met on the evening of July 28 in a bar in Las Piñas City  and discussed the frat’s  activities .The neophytes were reportedly taken the following morning to the Veluz farm where the  hazing rites started at 12 noon.

According to the witness, he acted as Marcos’ “guide”  during the ceremony.

In his sworn statement to the NBI, the witness said the victim went through four stages of the hazing rites which lasted for at least two hours.

At one stage, Marcos was asked to spell out the fraternity’s name. Every time he said a letter, the back of his thighs were hit with a paddle.