MANILA, Philippines - Four law students of San Beda College were charged yesterday with murder, in relation to Republic Act 8049 or the anti-hazing law, for the death of a fellow law student in Antipolo City last Sunday.
Charged for the killing of law student Marvin Reglos, 25, were Erick Castillo, 28; Bodjie Yap, 24; Arjay Gregana, Jufali Abdula, and 11 others.
Senior Superintendent Rolando Anduyan, Rizal police director, said Castillo and Yap are under police custody while the 13 others remain at large.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima yesterday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel probe on the hazing death.
Anduyan said police earlier had invited Castillo and Yap for questioning for acting suspiciously at the Unciano Medical Center where Reglos’ body was brought by four men on board a white car with license plate WMF-174 at around 3:28 p.m. last Sunday.
Police seized from Castillo and Yap their respective cell phones, which had text messages ordering them not to cooperate in the police investigation into Reglos’ death and not to identify fraternity officers present during the hazing.
Anduyan said the Lambda Rho Beta fraternity of San Beda College in Manila held the hazing of its neophyte members at Guilleans Place near the Bosay Resort in Barangay San Roque, Antipolo.
Superintendent Rodino Elfa, Antipolo City police chief, said Reglos sustained contusions all over his body.
Anduyan ordered the Rizal police crime laboratory to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of Reglos’ death. – With Ed Amoroso, Edu Punay