Criminology student dies from hazing

MANILA, Philippines — A 25-year-old criminology student died from injuries he allegedly sustained during hazing rites initiated by suspected members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in Quezon City on Monday.

Ahldryn Lery Bravante, a fourth year student of the Philippine College of Criminology and a resident of Imus City in Cavite, was dead by the time he was brought to the Chinese General Hospital in Manila by two members of the fraternity.

Bravante was pronounced dead on arrival at around 6:40 p.m., police said. An initial examination of his corpse showed he sustained hematomas in both legs and cigarette burns on his chest and hands.

Policemen arrested the two people who brought Bravante to the hospital: Justine Artates, 20, a third year criminology student of the same school, and Kyle Michael de Castro.

Two more suspects – Lexer Angelo Manarpies, 20, and Mark Leo Andales, 20 – surrendered to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) at Camp Karingal at around 1:10 a.m. yesterday.

The suspects are facing complaints for violation of Republic Act 11053, or the anti-hazing law.

Based on the information gathered by police investigators under the supervision of QCPD director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, the hazing occurred beside an abandoned building along Calambat street in Barangay Sto. Domingo at around 2 p.m.

Bravante, a neophyte, was undergoing initiation rites when he experienced difficulty breathing. It is unclear if he was the only one subjected to physical abuse.

Fraternity members rushed Bravante to the hospital after he collapsed and became unconscious.

The victim’s father, Alexander, is seeking justice for his death and urged other people who might be involved in the hazing to surrender.

Alexander recalled that the last time he talked to his son was on Sunday night, wherein the victim said he had to go to school early Monday.

Bravante’s body was stiff when he was brought to the hospital, his father said, citing his conversation with a physician.

Water bottles, paddle

Maranan said water bottles recovered at the crime scene would be used as evidence to identify the other suspects.

The bottles “could provide DNA samples for cross-matching with the suspects, aiding in the identification of individuals present at the crime scene,” he said in Filipino.

The suspects said the paddle used in the initiation rites was thrown into a river, according to Maranan.

When the exact location is identified, scuba divers will be employed to recover the paddle, he added.

Maranan confirmed that the four suspects in custody admitted their involvement in the initiation rites.

He added that eight more people have been linked to the hazing.