NBI to file raps vs 20 in Tau Gamma hazing

MANILA, Philippines - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Makati police will file today criminal charges against 20 people involved in the fatal hazing of Guillo Servando.

The Department of Justice has identified 17 of the respondents through a lookout bulletin issued yesterday.

They were identified as Cody Errol Morales, Daniel Paul Bautista, Esmerson Calupas, Jomar Pajarito, Kurt Michael Almazan, Luis Solomon Arevalo, Carl Francis Loresca, Hans Tatlonghari, Eleazar Pablico III and John Kevin Navoa.

Also included in the charges and lookout bulletin are Vic Angelo Dy, Mark Ramos, Mike Castañeda, Tessa Dayanghirang, Yssa Valbuena and alias Rey Jay and Kiko.

Morales is the alleged head of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity-De La Salle chapter, while Bautista is the chapter secretary who acted as the medic to revive Servando during the hazing on June 28.

Morales and Bautista were present during the initiation rites held in a house in Makati City, where Servando, an 18-year-old student from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, and three other recruits underwent hazing.

Pajarito, meanwhile, was the house caretaker and Calupas was the master initiator.

Navoa, meanwhile, has reportedly fled the country.

Officials said the charges of violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law will be filed before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office.

The DOJ, on the other hand, issued the lookout bulletin to the Bureau of Immigration to identify and prevent the other suspects at large from fleeing the country.

The NBI said the strongest evidence against the suspects came from the testimonies of the victims who survived the initiation rites.

Five other witnesses have surfaced and provided the NBI with additional testimonies.

Joel Tovera, chief of NBI death investigation division, said all the suspects are considered principal respondents in the case because they were present during the initiation rites or aided in the hazing of the recruits. – With Ed Amoroso