THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday came up with a resolution recommending the indictment of seven Tau Gamma Phi fraternity officers and members in connection with the alleged hazing death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig.
This was after probable cause was established against them for violation of the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 during investigation.
Facing charges are: Earl Anthony Osita Romero a.k.a. “Slaughter”; Tung Cheng Benitez Teng, Jr. a.k.a. “Nike”; Jerome Ochoco Balot a.k.a. “Allie”; Sandro Dasalla Victorino a.k.a. “Loki”; Michael Lambert Alcazar Ricalde a.k.a. “Alcazar”; Mark Muñoz Pedrosa a.k.a. “Macoy”; and Daniel Delos Reyes Perry a.k.a. “Sting’.
The respondents will also face a physical injury case sustained by another neophyte, Roi Osmond Dela Cruz.
In finding probable cause against the respondents, the panel of prosecutors who handled the case explained in its resolution dated March 13, 2023 that all of the respondents planned and actually participated in hazing the recruits by way of paddling.
“Based on the evidence presented during the inquest proceedings, the panel gathered that the above-named respondents, together with other individuals who remain at large,
recruited John Matthew Salilig, Roi Osmond Dela Cruz and two others to join the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity- Adamson University Chapter,” the DOJ said in a press briefer.
As a requirement for admission into their fraternity, the respondents and other members of the Tau Gamma Phi-Adamson Chapter subjected the recruits, including Salilig, to an initiation and welcoming rites February 18, 2023 at Binan City, Laguna.
But the said rites led to the death of Salilig and injuries to Dela Cruz.
“In view of the foregoing, two separate criminal informations for violation of Section 14(a) and 14(b)(1), respectively, of R.A. 8049, as amended by R.A. 11053, otherwise known as the “Anti-Hazing Act of 2018”, will be filed before the Regional Trial Court of Biñan City, Laguna.
Salilig went missing on February 18, and his family and friends turned to social media to raise awareness about his disappearance.
He was last seen wearing a red hoodie at a bus terminal in Manila before he vanished.
A witness revealed that Salilig was present during a welcoming ceremony for Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, wherein he was allegedly hit at least 70 times with a wooden paddle.
After more than a week, Salilig’s body was found in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite.
An autopsy showed that he suffered severe blunt force trauma to his lower extremities
