“Hazing” kills 13-yr-old boy

A thirteen-year-old graduating student of the Pardo Elementary School died yesterday dawn before reaching the hospital. His parents believed he was a victim of hazing.

The boy, Ren Atillo, 13, the eldest of the six children of Renato and Lilet Atillo, was said to be a happy boy doing fine in school, but what happened to him surprised his parents.

Renato said yesterday at his son’s wake that although his son did not admit to joining gangs, he believes Ren did but was afraid of telling him the truth.

Renato, a shellcraft worker said, he noticed Ren was sickly after arriving from school.  When he asked what was the matter the boy just told him that he felt tired and exhausted.

“Nahibulong ko kay nagtikungkong man siya, kapoy daw ang iyang lawas, pagka-Sabado sad sa buntag sakit daw ang iya paa unya gikutasan sa iyang ginhawa,” Renato said.

Because of this complaints they decided to have him checked by a doctor at the Cebu City Medical Center where he was asked to undergo blood and urine check-up for fear he had dengue or urinary tract infection.

After he was found to be normal he was allowed to go home.

But last Sunday midnight, Ren was again rushed to CCMC after he was complaining of pain in his legs, abdomen and having difficulty breathing.  He was later released in the early hours of the following morning.

But while they were already asleep that evening, they heard Ren shouting in pain, Renato and his relatives immediately rushed Ren back to CCMC but he never made it alive to the hospital.  There he was found to have bruises in his legs.

Lilet claimed Ren accidentally fell while attending a Mass with his class last Thursday, but nobody from his class confirmed the incident.

After Ren died, they were advised by neighbors and other concerned barangay officials to have the body autopsied but the family refused, for fear of spending money they do not have and even said they are not interested in filing charges if there will be suspects.

He was also sensitive about his red, yellow and pinks scarves.  Scarves are usually used by gangs as a form of identification.

Meanwhile, fourteen members of the Tau Gamma Fraternity including a minor were charged in court for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law after they were caught last week conducting initiation rites on two recruits in barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

Cebu City prosecutor Nicolas Sellon found probable cause to indict Ceasario Delica, Glenn Cabungcal, Julius Ortis, Ralph Manlapas, Earl Pentocorta, Jayvon Mausisa, Karl Dumamil, Allen Abanto, Bamban Balunan, Bong Ong, EJ Laroga, Jan Hortilano, Eric Soon and a 17-year-old for violation of Section 4 of the Republic Act 8049.

Most of the accused however have been released yesterday afternoon after they each posted a P6,000 bail.

Delica, who is allegedly the grand triskelion of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, and his companion were caught in the act of hitting Isagani Catubig and Soy Canta with a paddle in Felix Calzada Compound in barangay Mambaling Friday last week by members of the Mambaling police station.

Disheartened by the recent bloody incidents involving group of fraternities, Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday said he is planning to meet with the leaders of these groups to solve the problem.

“I don’t have a clear picture of it yet but I heard it is more of Crips and Bloods.  Not Tau Gamma and Akrho but the more younger ones,” Osmeña said.

The mayor said that as soon as he gets the information on what is going on, he would meet with the leaders of Crips and Bloods.

Osmeña earlier said he refused to tag the fraternity groups as criminal groups because it would be like alienating them.

According to him, the city government does not alienate fraternity groups or force them to be part of the community but it does not also tolerate crime. — Fred P. Languido, Edwin Ian Melecio and Wenna A. Berondo/BRP