ANOTHER witness in the hazing-related death of 24-year-old chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig surfaced to the police on Wednesday evening, March 1, 2023.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Jopia, acting chief of police of Biñan, Laguna, said Roi Dela Cruz, also a student of the Adamson University, went to the Biñan Police Station and recounted their “painful” ordeal during their initiation rites with the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.
Dela Cruz, a neophyte member of the fraternity unlike Salilig, who is already a member of the Zamboanga Chapter, said he underwent the initiation rites along with the victim who died.
He showed the injuries he sustained from the hazing, particularly at the back of his thighs where he received more than 70 blows using a paddle.
“Ang sabi sa ‘kin is since we have anti-hazing law, ang ibibigay na lang 12 to 24 (na palo), marami na ‘yung 24, so naniwala ako, plus the benefits na pwede mong matanggap, so pinursue ko kasi may financial struggle din kami,” said Dela Cruz in an interview with reporters.
“Pinatakan (din) nila ako ng candle sa likod, inukit nila ‘yung logo ng fraternity sa likod ko, then tinanggal nila ‘yung mga patak ng candle sa likod ko. Gamit ang belt pinalo nila ako,” he added.
Dela Cruz said he heard Salilig answering in affirmative after being asked by those conducting their initiation rites if he was okay.
He also positively identified six fraternity officers who were involved in the hazing, including the leader of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity Adamson chapter, Tung Cheng Teng Jr.
They were at the police station at that time after being invited by the police for questioning. They were immediately placed under arrest for violation of the anti-hazing law.
Jopia said they were still looking for seven individuals who were already identified and considered persons of interest.
Police also recovered on Wednesday the vehicle where Salilig reportedly took his last breath, following a seizure, while on their way back to Manila.
The vehicle was positively identified by Dela Cruz and the other witness, a member of the fraternity who earlier pointed to the area where Salilig’s body was buried.
The owner of the vehicle, Gregorio Cruz, father of Aaron, a member of the fraternity Biñan chapter who was among the persons of interest on the case, has already been arrested over obstruction of justice.
Dela Cruz and the other witness also pointed to the house where the initiation rites happened.
Salilig’s body was recovered on Tuesday, February 28, in Imus, Cavite. He was last seen alive on February 17 while on his way to Biñan, Laguna on board a bus.
Based on the autopsy report, Salilig died due to severe blunt force trauma to the lower extremities.
Salilig’s body bore injuries similar to Dela Cruz, at the back of his thigh, indicating that he also received extreme hitting on the said area.
Jopia said they now consider the incident as a solved case but not closed yet.
“By the arrest of most of the officers of this chapter, we consider this as case solved but not case closed,” said Jopia.
“I’m morally convinced that we have an air tight case,” he added.
The Biñan police said they will file charges for the violation of Anti-Hazing Law against the suspects before the Department of Justice (DOJ) within the day.
Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte said he will give a P500,000 reward for anyone who could provide information that would lead to the arrest of all those behind the death of Salilig.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. vowed justice for Salilig’s tragic death as he denounced hazing activities in fraternities and other organizations.
“I extend my sympathies to John Matthew Salilig’s family during this extremely difficult time and assure them that justice will be served,” Marcos said in a press statement.
“There should be no room for violence in our student organizations which our children consider family, and in our schools which they consider their second home,” he added. (SunStar Philippines)