APO hazing case raffled off

MANILA, Philippines - A criminal case filed against the 16 members of the Alpha Phi Omega in the death of a 19-year-old student of the University of Makati (UMAK) during a reported APO hazing ritual in Makati City last Aug. 14 was raffled off to the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 57.

In a telephone interview, Makati RTC administration officer Roberto Mendoza said they will submit all the records of the case against APO members John Reynald Marin, Roesel Wenceslao, Michael Pagulayan, Rico Mansalapus and a minor, who have been in police custody since their surrender days after the death of UMAK building and wiring management student EJ Karl Intia.

All of those named in the case so far are UMAK students except for Mansalapus, an UMAK alumnus. The five respondents and their 11 alleged conspirators, who are at large, have been charged for the anti-hazing law, Republic Act 8049.

“The case was raffled off this afternoon to Makati RTC Branch 57 presided over by Judge Honorio Guanlao, Jr. We will deliver the records of the case to Branch 57 and it will be up to Judge Guanlao to schedule the hearing of the case,” Mendoza said.

City Prosecutor Feliciano Aspi earlier issued a resolution finding the evidence submitted by the Makati police sufficient to establish probable cause for the filing of charges against the 16 APO members for the death of Intia, whose body was retrieved from a ravine along Marcos Highway in Sta. Maria, Laguna.

If convicted, the 16 APO members face a maximum of 40 years in jail.