Davao City

Suspects in Davao’s deadly frat hazing are UM criminology students

Rappler.com

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

Suspects in Davao’s deadly frat hazing are UM criminology students
The suspects, all AKRHO members in Davao City, are linked to the hazing death of neophyte August Ceazar Saplot who was found dead at Purok Santo Nino, Sison Village, Upper Mandug in Davao's Buhangin District

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – The largest private and non-sectarian university in the Southern Philippines has confirmed the involvement of its criminology students in the violent fraternity hazing in Davao City that saw a neophyte dead and another badly hurt on Sunday, September 18.

In a statement on Tuesday, September 20, the University of Mindanao (UM) said the incident involved its 4th-year Criminal Justice Education students.

Police arrested eight members of the Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRHO) fraternity and launched a manhunt for six others over the hazing death of a neophyte in Davao’s Buhangin District.

The hazing also left another fraternity neophyte badly hurt.

Authorities said the suspects, who were placed in the custody of the Mandug Station 3 of the Davao City Police Office, were facing charges of violation of the Anti-Hazing Law.

The suspects, all members of the AKRHO Alpha Delta Chapter in Davao City, were linked to the hazing death of August Ceazar Saplot who was found dead at Purok Santo Nino, Sison Village, Upper Mandug in Davao’s Buhangin District.

Those arrested were the following:

  • Jeremiah Obedencia Moya
  • Leji Wensdy Ofecio Quibuyen
  • John Lloyd Garciano Sumagang
  • Harold Joshua Sagaral Flauta
  • John Steven Baltazar Silvosa
  • Ramel John Potenciano Gamo
  • Gilbert Escodero Asoy Jr.
  • Roseller Andres Gaentano

Police said they were also looking for six other suspects:

  • Ryan James Ranolo
  • Harold Gocotano
  • John Bacacao
  • Cherie Norico
  • Kadjo Matobato
  • George M. Regalado

The UM condoled the victims’ families and said it would help investigators in building a case against the suspects.

It decried the hazing death and expressed disappointment that the incident involved its students.

“The illegal hazing incident was perpetuated by these students who are all members of the AKRHO Alpha Delta Chapter fraternity,” read part of the UM statement.

It was unclear though if UM referred to all the suspects.

“In the light of the ongoing investigations, UM strongly condemns the senseless and deplorable incident in the highest possible consternation and dismay, as the university is also offering its unqualified grief to the victims’ families,” the statement said.

UM said it banned all fraternities since the enactment of the anti-hazing law and was “sternly intolerant of fraternities and hazing which only foster the culture of violence, which is an anathema to the core values and conducive learning environment that the university upholds since 1946.”

The UM also said AKRHO is not a recognized organization in the university, “including all their illegal activities and roster of membership.” 

“The hazing incident also happened outside of the campus premises of the university; it was deliberately and inconspicuously held in the far-flung barangay of Upper Mandug, Buhangin, Davao City,” its statement read in part.

But the UM said the suspects brought “disrepute to the name of the institution.”

It added, “The perpetrators disrespected the [UM] president’s strict instructions against hazing inside or outside the university.” – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!