The police are tracking down the suspects responsible for the hazing of an 18-year-old San Enrique, Negros Occidental, resident who died on September 9, Mayor Jilson Tubillara said Monday, September 13.
Tubillara said he has directed the town police to dig deeper into the case and catch the culprits as fraternity hazing must be stopped.
The victim was a grade 10 high school student from Purok Mainuswagon, Barangay Guintorilan, in San Enrique.
His parents reported to the police that their son died at 6 a.m. on September 9 after he was subjected to hazing by members of a fraternity.
Investigation conducted revealed that the victim had applied to be a member of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity in San Enrique. His initiation rites were allegedly conducted in March when he was 17, but he was denied membership because he was a minor, PMaj. Bonifacio Aral Jr., town police chief, said in a report.
On the 18th birthday of the victim on September 3, he and three members of the fraternity had a drinking spree in his house, the police were also told.
When the drinking spree ended at 10 p.m. on September 3, the victim was blindfolded and brought by the suspects for alleged re-initiation rites.
The victim returned to his house at 1 a.m. of September 4 and his mother noticed that he could not walk properly.
On September 8, the victim complained to his mother that he was not feeling well and needed medicine. He told his parents he was reinitiated by the fraternity men at an unknown place because he was blindfolded and the three suspects took turns in striking his buttocks with a wood paddle, the police report said.
The body of 18-year-old was subjected to a post mortem examination Dr. Fritzi Juanillo, San Enrique municipal health officer, and he found bruises on the buttocks, Aral said.*