2 charged for death of UPLB student

CALAMBA CITY — Police filed yesterday criminal charges against two suspects in the death of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) student Marlon Villanueva during the fraternity initiation rites at a private resort here last Saturday.

Chief Inspector Boy Masongsong, Calamba investigation chief, said the suspects — UPLB students Jericho Paril, 25, of Meycauayan, Bulacan; and Brandon Gonzales, 22, of Calauan, Laguna, both members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity chapter at UPLB — were charged yesterday morning in the office of city prosecutor Maximo Palacol for violation of Republic Act 8049, commonly known as the Anti-Hazing Law.

Masongsong said that Villanueva, 21, an agriculture economics student at UPLB and a resident of Goodwill Subdivision in Parañaque City, died from severe physical injuries during the fraternity initiation at the Villa Resort located at Purok 5, Barangay Pansol here.

He added that Villanueva was brought to the Jose P. Rizal Memorial Hospital in Barangay Halang at around 2:30 a.m. by Paril and Gonzales.

SPO1 Gabriel Noquera, Calamba investigator and officer-on-case, said police received a telephone call from the hospital after a doctor suspected that the victim had died from hazing. The responding policemen immediately arrested Paril and Gonzales

Noguera said that at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, the victim with more or less 20 companions on board a passenger jeepney with no license plate arrived at the resort where the fraternity hazing took place.