Police secure 2 hazing victims

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – Police now have in their custody two San Beda College (SBC) law students, who were among nine neophytes that included Marc Andre Marcos who died last Monday from injuries he suffered during hazing rites in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Calabarzon police director Chief Superintendent James Melad identified the students as Ryan Christopher Maranan, 21, and Ephraim Daniel Lara, 21, both freshmen law students of San Beda College.

Melad said Maranan and Lara are potential witnesses and could be placed under police protection pending the investigation of the death of Marcos.

He said the two neophytes of the Lex Leonum Fraternitas told probers that they were blindfolded during the hazing rites.

Melad said they also identified Gian Angelo Veluz, 27, a 4th year student of SBC Alabang and a resident of Lt. Cantimbuhan St., Barangay Zone 3, Dasmariñas, as one of the master initiators during the fraternity initiation rites.

Another neophyte who was not immediately identified had also sent feelers signifying his intention to be placed under police custody. Maranan and Lara told investigators that there were 24 persons, including nine neophytes, in the hazing rites that were conducted last Sunday at the farm owned by the family of Veluz in Sitio Bisaya, Dasmariñas.

Veluz went into hiding after he and several other suspects brought the badly injured Marcos to the De La Salle University Medical Center (DLSUMC) in Dasmariñas. 

Melad told The STAR that relatives brought the two law students to the office of Cavite police director Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao yesterday afternoon.

Bulalacao said that he received a text message from a family friend of one of the neophytes.

Melad said Task Force Marcos headed by officers of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Cavite had filed amended charges of murder and serious physical injuries before the Dasmariñas Prosecutor’s Office against Veluz, his cook Soledad Sanda, and housemaid Marlen Guadayo.

The two househelpers went into hiding after Marcos died.

The CIDG had earlier filed charges of violation of the anti-hazing law or Republic Act 8049 before the Dasmariñas Prosecutor’s Office against Veluz, Sanda, and Guadayo.

Marcos died of multiple injuries at the DLSUMC after Veluz and two other men as well as Sanda and Guadayo left the victim at the hospital.

Melad said the other neophyte had sent text messages to police authorities saying that he is willing to submit himself to authorities and cooperate with investigators regarding the hazing rites held at the farm last Saturday afternoon.

He said Veluz’s father Angelito is currently coordinating with Task Force Marcos for the surrender of his son.

Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., spokesman for the Philippine National Police, said that a politician whose identity was withheld, is coordinating with the police to facilitate the surrender of the younger Veluz.

He said the politician called police investigators and offered to help convince Veluz to surrender.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is now looking for a member of the Lex Leonum Fraternitas who recruited Marcos to join the fraternity.

Bureau sources identified the recruiter as Cornelio Marcelo, who identified himself as a San Beda law student and member of the fraternity.

The source showed a copy of an affidavit issued by a cousin of Marcos who had exchanged text messages regarding the recruitment of the victim to the fraternity. 

Fraternity alumni condemn killing

Alumni of the Lex Leonum Fraternitas condemned the death of Marcos during hazing rites.

Lawyers Ariel Inton, a former Quezon City councilor, and Raji Mendoza told a press conference in Quezon City that the “brods” were saddened by the death of a neophyte.

“The Lex Leonum Fraternitas Alumni are extremely saddened by the news of the untimely death of Marc Andrei Marcos. Our fraternity has never advocated violence and we condemn hazing in the strongest possible manner. We are professionals and we do not believe in the power of force used as reason, but in the power of reason used as force,” the group said in a statement.

They said the fraternity alumni are still verifying if Veluz is a member of Lex Leonum. 

Inton said hazing was never practiced during their time.

Mendoza said the fraternity was established in 1968 and their fraternity had never been dragged into any hazing controversy until now.

He claimed that the initiation process to be part of the fraternity involved “mental exams” to determine if a neophyte was fit to be a brod.

“We are trying to find out how good you are (mentally) as a potential lawyer,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza said their initiation process involved both oral and written exams which tested, for example, the proficiency of an applicant in matters that had yet to be taken up in class.

Both Inton and Mendoza admitted that the initiation process being practiced by residents is not necessarily done with prior consent from the alumni or any higher body within the fraternity.

When asked whether it was possible that younger members are practicing hazing not sanctioned by the fraternity, Inton said: (In) any frat, that’s possible.”

The group said they were willing to cooperate with authorities and that alumni are also conducting an investigation on the matter.

“We extend our sympathy to the Marcos family and want them to know that we also seek the truth so that justice for Marc Andrei Marcos may be served. As a fraternity of lawyers, we adhere to the rule of law and the principles of due process,” their statement said.

“We also appeal to the public, amid times of shock, awe, and confusion, to keep an open mind until the wheels of justice have taken its course.” 

Tarlac Gov. Victor Yap has called for an all-out investigation of the death of Marcos, a resident of Ramos town.

Yap condemned the violent hazing and called on authorities to dig deep into the case and likewise called for the abolition of hazing.

“I sympathize with the family of Andrei Marcos and my condolences go to them,” the governor said in a statement. With Reinir Padua, Sandy Araneta, Ric Sapnu, Cecille Suerte Felipe