Coed killed in Laguna frat initiation rites

BIÑAN, Laguna, Philippines – A 15-year-old female student was allegedly shot dead while undergoing fraternity initiation rites in a rented apartment in Barangay San Vicente here last Saturday afternoon.

Police have arrested nine members of the Scout Royal Brother (SRB) fraternity, including their adviser, and took two witnesses in custody after Glacy Monique was found dead with a bullet wound in the head, said Senior Superintendent Manolito Labador, Laguna provincial director.

Labador said police rushed to the Miranda apartment in Barangay San Vicente after getting information on a shooting incident there.

Police recovered a caliber .9-mm slug, two live bullets, a doctrine pamphlet and tarpaulin of the SRB fraternity, and Monique’s cell phone.

Labador said his men arrested businessman Erwin del Rosario, 33, tagged as SRB’s adviser; seven members – all high school students aged 13 to 17 – and one Richard John Layacan, 28.

Del Rosario allegedly cleaned up the room where Monique was found dead.

Labador quoted another neophyte, also a minor, as telling probers that SRB member Edwin Salandanan, 20, alias Wiwit, pointed a gun to Monique’s head during the psychological test but accidentally pulled the trigger.

Salandanan and Del Rosario’s wife Liberty, 33, are now the subject of a manhunt.

The neophyte said members of the fraternity tried to revive Monique, but to no avail.

Charges of violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law have been filed against the suspects.

All the minors have been placed under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare Development in Biñan. Del Rosario and Layacan are detained at the Biñan municipal jail.

Police raids on three suspected safehouses of the fraternity yielded a wooden paddle with SRB marking, a converted caliber .22 rifle, two magazines, a caliber .45 silencer, and several bullets. – With Arnell Ozaeta