'Hazing' kills boy in Punta Princesa

CEBU, Philippines - A 17-year-old boy who sustained severe injuries around his body was believed to have been died of hazing.

Jhon Michael Mina, of sitio Sihay, Tres de Abril, Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City, died inside a taxi while being rushed to Cebu City Medical Center for an ulcer attack at around 5:20 a.m. yesterday.

But doctors at CCMC later found out that Mina’s death was not due to ulcer but to severe injuries in different parts of his body.

They discovered that Mina sustained various contusions from his head to his legs which, they believe, are hazing injuries.

Hospital authorities then called up the police to check the boy’s body.

“Pwerting daghana sa bun-og niya. Naa sa iyang nawong, agtang, paa, siko ug mga agi sa kuko sa iyang liog,” said PO2 Leroy Bagio of the Homicide Section of Cebu City Police Office.

It was learned that the victim arrived in April in Cebu City from Cavite where he lives with his aunt.

Mylene, the victim’s mother, said her son left their house around 10 p.m. Monday to play games in a nearby Internet café.

When he returned around 4 a.m. yesterday, Mylene said her son looked tired with contusions around his body.

When she asked about his bruises, the victim only answered,“nakipaksuntukan lang.” He then ate breakfast and took a rest.

But minutes later, the victim started vomiting while complaining about extreme stomachache.   

Mylene and their relatives rushed him to CCMC where he was declared dead on arrival.

Bagio, however, clarified that they are still waiting for the autopsy report to confirm the cause of Mina’s death.

“Ang atong pagduda nga basin nabiktima gyud ni siya sa hazing. Base ra pud na sa among nakita nga mga bun-og sa iyang lawas,” he said. 

Police investigators are now looking into where the victim was between 12 midnight to 4 a.m., the time when he was out of their house.

This after they found out that the Internet café where Mina was supposed to be playing closes at 12 midnight. –(FREEMAN)