Stop the barbarians!

I wrote about hazing last March 2012, after the Supreme Court (SC) handed down the final decision on the Lenny Villa case – after 21 years. The Ateneo Law School student died of cardiac arrest after being savagely mauled at an Aquila Legis’ initiation in 1991.  

Found guilty of “reckless imprudence resulting in homicide” were Fidelito Dizon, Antonio Mariano Almeda, Junel Anthony Ama, Renato Bantug, Jr. and Vincent Tecson. 

The sentence? “An indeterminate prison term” of minimum four-months and one-day to maximum four-years and two-months. The heirs were awarded civil indemnity of P50,000 (about $1,100) and P1M (about $250,000) moral damages plus legal interest of 12% on all damages, jointly and severally. It was a slap on the wrist. 

Many asked, are there “brods” in the SC? 

The article produced strong reaction from UP’s Upsilon Sigma Phi who pleaded exemption from condemnation. After all, they sponsor a lot of medical missions, give scholarships to indigents and do charity work. 

Today, this august fraternity is under investigation again for hazing rites that ended with a neophyte being hospitalized. It seems Upsilon “initiates” paddling along with laudable projects. 

UP Philosophy professor, Agerico de Villa, called it “the chosen people syndrome.” Ancient outlawed secret societies practiced initiation rites to protect their beliefs from the philistines. Their members had to be trusted as a matter of life and death. 

But the freedom of association is now a constitutional right. So have these fraternities become obsolete and unnecessary? 

Brutality has become ingrained in what journalist Hank Nuwer called Wrongs of Passage. Eighty-two percent of deaths from hazing involve alcohol. In the case of Guillo Servando, drugs were allegedly also found in the bloody crime scene.

Applicants are beaten with a ferocity matching the intoxication and sadism level of the initiators. The ritual is supposed to forge a sacrosanct affiliation when they get accepted… assuming they survive. But in fact, hazing is really about power and control. People who conduct hazing have a need to feel powerful and in control. 

Despite the Anti-Hazing law of 1995, the “frat-icide” list has become even longer.

2014

Guillo Servando, 18, Benilde sophomore. He is believed to have died from severe beating in initiation rites of Tau Gamma fraternity.

2013

John Mark Dugan, 19. A sophomore marine cadet in the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific whose death was linked to hazing.

2012

Marc Andre Marcos, 20. A San Beda University law student, he was allegedly beaten to death by members of the Lex Leonum fraternity. The accused were cleared from charges in 2013.

Marvin Reglos, 25. He was a San Beda law student who was reportedly killed during hazing rites held by the Lambda Rho Beta in Antipolo City.

San Sebastian senior law students Erick Castillo and Bodjie Yap faced murder charges, along with Arjay Gregana, Jufali Abdula and 11 others.

2011

E.J. Karl Intia, 19, from the University of Makati who supposedly aspired to join the Alpha Phi Omega (APO). He suffered 4 hours of hazing in the house of Rico Mansalapus. Intia’s body was later found in a 30-meter deep ravine in Laguna.  

Sixteen APO fratmen were charged. University of Makati students Reynald Marin, 19; Michael Pagulayan, 19; Roesel Wenceslao, 18; and alumnus Rico Mansalapus, 31, were ordered released for lack of probable cause by Makati Judge Honorio Guanlao even with the admission that they took part in the hazing. 

Ronel de Guzman, 20, of Hagonoy, Bulacan was taken to an empty lot at a Tau Gamma Phi initiation. He did not survive the beating.

Marlon T. Mendoza and John Lawrence Borja y Coronel, 18, were charged. 

Nor Silongan, 16, a Criminology student in Sultan Kudarat, was mauled to death in an isolated area at a Tau Gamma Phi initiation.

2010

Daniel Lorenz Jacinto, 19, from the Mapua Institute of Technology, Trece Martires, Cavite, died from severe bruises on his thighs and body allegedly from the Cavite Cardinals initiation. 

Arrested were Emil John Villanueva, 19; Ronnie Mozo, 19; Glenn Angelo Mansilla, 20; John Arman Canicosa, 19; Paulo Alvarez, 22; and Marco Polo Sarlo, 21. 

Noel Borja Jr., 15, an elementary student and neophyte was reportedly assaulted to death by members of Tau Gamma Phi. The brotherhood learned that Borja’s parents belonged to rival Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity.

2009

Glacy Monique Dimaranan, a 15-year-old girl who died of a single gunshot wound in the head during initiation rites. A member of the Scout Royal Brotherhood (highschool version of the APO) in Laguna accidentally pulled the trigger of the gun he was pointing at the victim.

John Daniel Samparanda, 18, a student of Lyceum, Cavite, suffered severe leg beatings inflicted at Tau Gamma Phi  rites. He died in October 2009.

Charged were Bartolome, 21, and Joel Bandalan 18, a sophomore and freshman studying Hotel and Restaurant Management at Lyceum.

Elvin Sinaluan, 21, a Scout Royal Brotherhood recruit who died reportedly in brutal rites where initiates “were hit by paddle every 30 seconds for two hours,” said authorities. 

Eight were arrested: Antonio Rosanes, Ricky Arga, Rommel Pega, Timothy Cruzada, Paul John Caldit, Jecel Alvares, Aaron Amparo, and Aloja Vidallon. 

Karl Anthony Gaudicos, 18. An engineering student of the Holy Cross of Davao College who died in hazing activities under the Tau Gamma Phi and Tau Gamma Sigma.

2008  

Chester Paulo Abracias, a Marine Technology sophomore at the Enverga University, Lucena City, was paddled to death during a Tau Gamma Phi initiation. 

A member who surrendered and requested anonymity received death threats.

2007

Cris Anthony Mendez, 21, from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, was declared dead on arrival at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. 

Dr. Francisco Cruz, who brought the Sigma Rho initiate, faced a civil case from the Mendez family. Fifteen fratmen were investigated. The case is pending at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Jan Angelo Dollete, 21. A 5th-year Engineering student from Capiz State University died during the final initiation of APO from severe contusions all over the body “inflicted by many.” 

Christina Dyna Baldisimo, a high school teacher; Phel Raff Patricio, CSU student; Deneo Machado, manager of RCL Marketing; Dinkee Mandar, Dexter Alvarez, Ramir Bula and Archie Durana were charged.  

2006

Clark Anson Silverio, a UP mechanical engineering student, was declared dead on arrival at the Manila Sanitarium Hospital after reported initiations by Tau Gamma Phi .

Marlon Villanueva, 21, an agriculture economics student from UP Los Baños, succumbed to injuries sustained at a suspected APO initiation in Pansol, Laguna. 

Charged were Jericho Paril, 25, and Brandon Gonzales, 22, both APO members. 

Dan Robert Talibutab, a criminology student from St. Therese College, Iloilo, was believed to be a hazing victim of the non-accredited school organization Kapatiran ng Kabataan sa Kriminolohiya.

2004 

Mark Welson Chua, a UST student who exposed corruption among Reserve Officers’ Training Corps officials, was killed by a fellow student. Defendants during the trial claimed that Chua died in fraternity hazing rites.

2003

Emerson Berry Jr., 16, fourth year student from the Casanayan National High School, was beaten to death in initiation rites of the Beta Sigma Rho brotherhood in Pilar, Capiz.

2001

Rafael Root Albano III, an aspiring doctor, was believed to be killed by members of the Sigma Mu, a fraternity of medical doctors in FEU, Laguna.

Fernando Balidoy, 18, probationary midshipman, died as he was undergoing initiation conducted by upperclassmen of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy.

Monico de Guzman, a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) plebe whose death was attributed to illness by officials. His father, however, believes his son died from the notorious “beat attack” on entrants in boot camp.

Edward Domingo, 23. The Camiling, Tarlac native and PMA cadet reportedly died of cardio-respiratory attack due to injuries he suffered from hard blows to the lower part of the rib cage. Two cadets were convicted for homicide.

2000

Ace Bernabe Ekid, 21, was said to have died from stroke due to rigorous training exercises at the PMA. His family and friends, however, insisted Ace was a victim of hazing and foul play.

1998 

Alexander Miguel Icasiano of UP Alpha Phi Beta 

1995

Mark Roland Martin of Epsilon Chi 

Here’s a tally of the most murderous Philippine fraternities and groups of the decade: Tau Gamma Phi: 8 hazing deaths; Alpha Phi Omega and Scout Royal Brotherhood: 5 deaths; and PMA: 3 dead plebes. 

How many more have to die before these barbarians are stopped? – Rappler.com