Hazing suspect shows up at NBI to clear name

MANILA, Philippines - One of those charged before the Antipolo City prosecutor’s office for the fatal hazing of San Beda freshman law student Marvin Reglos showed up at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday to clear his name and deny involvement in the incident.

Through his legal counsel, lawyer Galileo Angeles, Christian Adobo said he belongs to the Gamma Delta Epsilon fraternity of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Law, and not of the Lambda Rho Beta of the San Beda College of Law that conducted the initiation rites in Antipolo City.

Adobo, accompanied by Angeles and at least 20 fraternity brothers, showed up at the NBI Death Investigation Division, and clarified that he is not a student of the San Beda College of Law.

Adobo was earlier charged with murder in relation to Republic Act 8049 of the anti-hazing law following Reglos’ death.

“We just do not want that others who have no knowledge in the Reglos hazing to be implicated in this incident,” Angeles said.

Reports said Adobo paid the rent for the use of the Guellan’s Place Resort where the initiation rites were held. But Angeles said the reservation was not for the Lambda Rho Beta, but for a meeting of Gamma Delta Epsilon to discuss its 64th anniversary preparations.

Angeles said the Gamma Delta Epsilon exclusively rented the resort from 10 p.m. last Feb. 18 to 7 a.m. of Feb. 19.  

He said they did not notice other people in the resort, much more the alleged initiation rites.

“There was no untoward incident that happened or we noticed. No hazing every happened at Guellan because we were there, we had our meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vice President Jejomar Binay has vowed to help Reglos’ family.           

Binay personally made the assurance to the Regloses during a recent visit by the law student’s parents, Luciano and Myrna, at his office at the Coconut Palace.

“I will do everything in my power as Vice President to bring the perpetrators to justice,” Binay said, as he encouraged the Reglos family not to lose hope.

Reglos died on Feb. 19 at the Unciano Medical Center in Antipolo City due to kidney failure after sustaining muscle injuries as a result of the initiation rites of Lambda Rho Beta.  – With Jose Rodel Clapano