UC engineering student also dies from Tau Gamma ‘hazing’
A MARINE engineering student of the University of Cebu (UC) in Cebu City also died after undergoing initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in December 2022.
Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta said in a press conference on Thursday, March 2, 2023, following the hazing-related death of John Matthew Salilig of Adamson University, that Leny Baguio, mother of a second year college marine engineering student of UC-Maritime Education and Training Center (METC), sought their assistance in January to expedite the probe into her son’s death.
Ronnel Masamoc Baguio, 20, died on December 19. His death certificate indicated that he died due to “severe acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to indirect lung injury and acute kidney injury secondary to rhabdomyolysis.”
RELATED STORY: Hazing victim recounts ‘painful’ ordeal in hands of frat brods
Leny said that days before Ronnel’s death, he had complained of stomach pain, headaches, a suspected urinary tract infection, and was even vomiting blood.
She said she had sent Ronnel money for medical consultation without knowing that he had joined a fraternity and that his symptoms were the result of hazing.
Leny said when she called Ronnel, his friend informed her that he had been hospitalized. Leny immediately flew from Bataan to Cebu, but it was too late; her son was already lifeless when she arrived.
Leny said Ronnel had many wounds in his legs and his feet were swollen.
PAO Director Revelyn Ramos-Dacpano said based on the initial investigation, the hazing happened on December 10.
She said investigation also showed that an instructor of UC was involved in his hazing.
Contacted UC
Dacpano said they had sent a letter to UC, requesting a probe into the matter to identify those involved in Ronnel’s death.
UC, in a statement Thursday, said the incident happened off-campus.
“UC-METC (Maritime Education and Training Center) was not aware of the incident and does not tolerate any form of hazing. UC-METC does not recognize any fraternity or sorority,” it said.
The school confirmed that it had received a request from PAO for a formal investigation on the death of Ronnel.
“Since the day we were informed of the incident, UC-METC has been coordinating with and assisting the police while conducting our own internal investigation,” UC added.
It vowed to cooperate and assist the police and the Baguio family in the probe.
Acosta said she had already ordered prosecutors to file a case.
Calling on police
“I am calling on the Cebu police that if possible, we can work together to hasten my son’s case, just like in the hazing case here in Cavite,” Leny said in Tagalog.
“I am also appealing for this hazing culture to stop because our children are the ones suffering, and we parents suffer even more,” she added.
Leny was referring to the death of Salilig after joining the initiation rites of the same fraternity that Ronnel had joined.
No case filed
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) admitted Thursday that it has not yet filed a case against the persons responsible for the death of UC-METC student Baguio as the victim’s family has not returned to Cebu and the witness also went home to Negros Oriental.
The family of Baguio is from Mariveles, Bataan.
CCPO chief Police Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog said the police hope that the witness will testify so that charges for murder and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law will be filed in court against the persons responsible.
The CCPO chief declined to name the suspect but said this person was the one who encouraged Baguio to join the fraternity.
The initiation rites happened last December 10, according to Mambaling Police Station chief Major Jonathan Beethoven Taneo, who said the rites were halted midway after Baguio and the witness fainted amid the blows they received.
Taneo said the pair was blindfolded, so they could not tell how many people were hitting them.
After they fainted, fraternity members had them rest before letting them go home to their boarding house, Taneo said the witness related.
Taneo said Baguio likely did not tell his family about how he was feeling for fear of being scolded for joining a fraternity.
It was only on December 17 that Baguio told his parents that he had difficulty breathing. He was rushed to the hospital on December 18 but died around 5 a.m. of December 19, Taneo said.
It was the hospital management that called the Mambaling Police Station 11 to inform police that a man had died from hazing.
Baguio’s body has been brought to Bataan, where he was buried.
“We were able to talk to the chief of Police Station 11. The family coordinated with the Public Attorney’s Office for the filing of charges against the suspect, but we had difficulty filing it because the witness is in Negros Oriental and the mother is in Bataan. The case is ready for filing, but we are waiting for the witness,” said Dalogdog.
He added that they might fetch the witness in Negros Oriental and bring him to Cebu for the filing of charges.
Manila case
In the Manila case, a day after Salilig’s body was found buried in a grassy area in Imus, Cavite on February 28, police already identified those involved in his death.
Six of the suspects, including the leader of the fraternity chapter, have been arrested, and charges for violation of the anti-hazing law have been filed against them before the Department of Justice.
Under Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which amended RA 8049 (also known as the anti-hazing law of 1995), the accused may be penalized with reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years of imprisonment. (SunStar Philippines/LMY, CTL)