CHARGED. Police officers from the Quezon City Police District take their oath before the City Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday (Oct. 18, 2023). The QCPD has filed charges against four suspects in the alleged hazing of Aldryn Leary Bravante, a fourth-year student of the Philippine College of Criminology. (Photo courtesy of QCPD)
MANILA – The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has filed charges against four members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity over the death of 25-year-old Aldryn Leary Bravante, a fourth-year student of the Philippine College of Criminology due to hazing on Oct. 16.
In a statement on Thursday, QCPD Director, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan, said the suspects Justin Artates, Mark Leo Andales, Kyle Michael de Castro, and Lexer Angelo Manarpies have been charged with violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.
Maranan said Artates and de Castro on Wednesday gave their extrajudicial confession through the assistance of their counsel Melvin Bughao, where they disclosed the names and addresses of the other members of the fraternity.
Meanwhile, two more suspects in the incident surrendered to authorities.
John Arvin Kaylle Diocena, 23, was accompanied by his aunt when he surrendered to the QCPD at about 10:50 a.m. Thursday.
Diocena, a resident of Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City, was among the members of the fraternity who were named by Artates and de Castro in their confession.
At about 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 18-year-old John Xavier Arcosa was accompanied by his parents when he surrendered to the QCPD Police Station 1.
The two suspects are under the custody of the QCPD's Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.
"The QCPD calls on those who are involved in this incident, especially to the 11 individuals who were named, as well as those who have yet to be identified, surrender now and cooperate with the probe and give justice to the family of the victim. The police will spare no effort until you are all arrested and held accountable for your crime,” Maranan said.
Bravante, a resident of Imus, Cavite, was rushed to the hospital by Artates and de Castro at about 7 p.m. on Oct. 16 after falling unconscious while undergoing the initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in an abandoned building in Quezon City. He was declared dead at the hospital by an attending physician.
A cursory examination showed that the victim had hematoma on both legs and marks of burned cigarettes on his chest and both hands.
‘Full force of the law’
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said full force of the law is needed to stop hazing, noting that there have been at least five reported deaths since the anti-hazing law was enacted in 2018.
“Needless to say, the full force of the law must come down on those soulless people who killed the same person they claim to be as their brother,” he said in a statement.
Zubiri was referring to Republic Act No. 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 that was enacted following the death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, then a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, due to hazing in 2017.
He said the senseless death of Bravante due to barbaric fraternity tradition “is not only enraging, but frustrating as well as it happened despite our efforts to put more teeth to the law against fraternity hazing.”
“We should put an end to these acts of savagery. Let’s ensure that those who mock our system of justice would be made to account for their misdeeds,” Zubiri said.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte strongly condemned the latest hazing incident that occurred right within her jurisdiction, saying it is a life-threatening practice that violates human dignity.
“Hindi dapat maging batayan ng katapatan at kapatiran ang pananakit sa kapwa na maaaring magdulot ng permanenteng pinsala o humantong sa kamatayan (Hazing should not be the basis of allegiance and brotherhood as this could cause permanent damage and may even lead to death),” Belmonte said in a statement.
Belmonte ordered the QCPD to thoroughly investigate the hazing incident and arrest all those responsible for the death of Bravante.
“Nakikiramay kami sa pamilya at mga kaibigan ng nasawi. Makikipagtulungan ang lokal na pamahalaan sa QCPD para masigurong mananagot ang mga may sala (Our deepest sympathy goes to the family and friends of the victim. The city government will closely coordinate with the QCPD to assure that those guilty will be held responsible),” Belmonte said. (with a report from Leonel Abasola/Marita Moaje/PNA)
