Police probers are investigating three members of a fraternity alleged to have been involved in a hazing incident that claimed the life of a Grade 10 student in San Enrique, Negros Occidental, Sept. 9.
P/Lt. Sammy Gasataya, San Enrique deputy police chief, said the 18-year-old victim, a student of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School in La Carlota City, succumbed to hematomas in his buttocks, based on the post-mortem examination conducted by Dr. Fritzi Juanillo.
The alleged hazing incident was only reported to the San Enrique Police Station on Sept. 11, two days after the victim died, Gasataya said.
The three suspects vehemently denied that they have anything to do with the death of the victim. But Gasataya said the police recovered the wooden paddle allegedly used during the initiation rites, from the house of one of the three suspects.
Initial police investigation showed the three suspects went to the house of the victim, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on Sept. 3, in Purok Mainuswagon, Brgy. Guintorilan, San Enrique, and invited him again to join the fraternity.
The victim was initially recruited to join the fraternity March 23 this year. But the initiation rite was reportedly held in abeyance since he was still a minor, Gasataya said.
He added that the victim told his parents before he died that after a drinking spree, he was blindfolded and brought to a place he did not know for the initiation rites.
Gasataya said the victim told his parents that he was hit with a paddle by the three suspects.
The suspects denied the allegations against them during an investigation, but the police will continue to gather more information, he added. — GB
