THE eight suspects involved in the hazing and death of a Davao City college student are already facing charges, said spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Davao (PRO-Davao) Police Major lawyer Eudisan Gultiano.
In a radio interview on September 23, the cases against the eight suspects were filed through inquest proceedings while six other suspects, who are still at large, will be charged through regular filing.
“Sa ngayon patuloy ang paghahanap ng kapulisan sa anim pa na nakatakas (For now, the police continue to investigate the whereabouts of the six other suspects),” Gultiano said.
The suspects will face charges and appropriate sanctions for violating Republic Act 8049 “An act regulating hazing and other forms of initiation rites in fraternities, sororities, and other organizations and providing penalties therefor.”
Based on the law, suspects may have varying sentences depending on the injuries acquired by the hazing victim, but life imprisonment is faced if the hazing resulted in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation.
The spokesperson said they hope the involved fraternity, namely the Alpha Kappa Rho (Akhro) Alpha Delta Chapter, will coordinate with the police regarding the investigation.
“We are hoping na matulungan kami ng fraternity, kung saan na member itong mga (suspects), na mahanap or ma-facilitate ang surrender nitong mga anim na nakatakas (We are hoping that the fraternity, where the suspects are part of, will help us locate or facilitate the surrender of those who escaped),” Gultiano said.
The victim was a 19-year-old male student of the University of Mindanao in Davao City who died on September 18 while another victim, involved in the same hazing incident, acquired serious injuries but survived. Both were pledgees of the fraternity group.
The body of the 19-year-old victim was found at Purok Sto. Nino, Sison Village, Upper Mandug, Buhangin, Davao City.