Parents urged to surrender hazing suspects

MANILA, Philippines - Government agents are negotiating with the parents of fraternity members accused of fatally hazing 18-year-old Guillo Servando to bring them before the Department of Justice (DOJ) to face preliminary investigation.

Southern Police director Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villlacorte said it would be considered a mitigating circumstance if the suspects surrender to authorities.

“All of the suspects are now identified and charged before the Department of Justice, we are urging the parents to surrender the suspects before the criminal cases are filed in court, “ he said.

Villacorte spoke in a joint case conference with officials of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Makati police last Friday.

It would be up to the DOJ to evaluate and recommend the charges to be filed against one of the suspects who is a minor, Villacorte said.

NBI and police officials decided during the joint case conference that Jomar Pajarito, the caretaker of the Makati house where the alleged hazing took place, will be a state witness and be placed under the Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Makati police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said Pajarito will be given government protection after his family started receiving threatening text messages.

“We will bring him to the DOJ for inclusion in the witness protection program on Monday,” he said.

“He only asks that his wife and child also be included in the program.”

Pajarito still lives in the house in Barangay Palanan, Makati with his wife and child, he added.

Pajarito’s wife also reported having seen several people circling the house after her husband surfaced and agreed to turn witness.

Pajarito surrendered to police two days after Servando died last June 28 and led investigators to the  house in Barangay Palanan.

Authorities have charged 20 people implicated in   Servando’s death  with  violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law before the DOJ.