14 Tau Gamma members liable in hazing case

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) yesterday indicted 14 members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity for the death of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student Guillo Cesar Servando after initiation rites last June.

A non-bailable case for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law was filed before the Makati City regional trial court against the respondents led by Cody Errol Morales, head of the fraternity’s De La Salle University chapter.

Also charged were Daniel Paul Martin Bautista, Kurt Michael Almazan, Esmerson Nathaniel Calupas, Hans Killia Tatlonghari, Eleazar Pablico III, John Kevin Navoa, Vic Angelo Dy, Mark Andrew Ramos, Michael David Castañeda, Justin Francis Reyes and three other unidentified persons.

The DOJ filed the case after prosecutors established probable cause on the charges in preliminary investigation.

The DOJ concluded that all 14 accused were present during the initiation rites of Servando and three other neophytes – John Paul Raval, Lorenze Anthony Agustin and Levin Roland Flores – held last June 28 in a house on Calatagan St., Barangay Palanan in Makati City.

It stressed that the fraternity conducted the initiation rites without notice to and authority from school authorities concerned – in violation of the provisions of RA 8049.

“The positive identification of the fraternity members of Tau Gamma Phi by the three neophytes Raval, Agustin and Flores, who survived the hazing, as well as their vivid recollection of what really transpired on June 28, 2014, which at least were not rebutted by the respondents, who either resorted to flight or disappeared to parts unknown, more than swayed our minds to morally conclude that they were telling the truth, and that their testimonies were in fact credible, true and straightforward,” the DOJ said in a 26-page resolution.

The sworn statements of the maintenance and security personnel of One Archers Place Condominium, where the neophytes were staying, also corroborated the testimonies of the three neophytes.

The DOJ noted that the condominium personnel had first-hand interaction with the neophytes and respondents Tatlonghari and Pablico when they returned to the condo unit where Servando died.

“The other pieces of evidence, that is, the closed circuit TV (CCTV) footage recorded at One Archers Place that fateful day... as well as the photographs submitted by complainants, have more than morally convinced the undersigned panel of prosecutors to accord credence to the veritable testimonies of the victims and the other witnesses,” it further explained.

The DOJ, however, recommended the dismissal of the complaint against six other respondents identified as Jemar Pajarito, Luis Solomon Arevalo, Carl Francis Loresca, Steven Jorge Penano, Ma. Teresa Dayanghirang and Alyssa Federique Valbuena for insufficiency of evidence.

The resolution was signed by a panel of prosecutors composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano, Arnold Magpantay and Alejandro Daguiso, and approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

The family of Servando welcomed the DOJ findings.

“We are thankful to Secretary (Leila) de Lima and Prosecutor General (Arellano) for coming out with the resolution. Hopefully, we will see arrests soon,” the victim’s father Aurelio said in a text message.

It was, however, found in earlier hearings that respondents Navoa, Calupas, Tatlonghari, Pablico and Valbuena have fled the country.

PAF hazing probe

Twenty-two Philippine Air Force candidate officers and their training instructor have been grounded and placed under investigation for reportedly subjecting to hazing their underclassmen at the PAF’s training school in Lipa City, Batangas.

Lt. Col. Enrico Canaya, PAF spokesman, said nine of the candidate officers have been recommended for separation from the service while an ongoing probe is being conducted over the participation of the rest of their colleagues for the physical maltreatment of their underclassmen.

“Nine members… belonging to OC Class 2014 were recommended for separation while 13 others from the same class were recommended for further investigation including a military instructor with a rank of 2Lt.

All 22 are held in a custodial facility at Villamor Air Base to ensure their availability during processing of the case,” Canaya said. – With Jaime Laude