Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 11) – The older brother of John Matthew Salilig, the Adamson University student killed in a hazing ritual, and three other students have filed criminal complaints against fraternity members allegedly responsible for the deadly initiation rites.
Two separate complaints were filed with the Department of Justice on March 10, accusing respondents, who are all members of Tau Gamma Phi, of violating Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.
John Michael Salilig, the brother of John Matthew, and Roi Dela Cruz, an Adamson student who was reportedly hazed at the same initiation rites as Salilig, accused 12 men in their complaint.
Named as repondents were Mark Rama, Levi Gianan, Ryan Camangyan, Ar-Jay Arao, Christian Mercado, Lester Sus, Carlos Rovillos, Earl Ursolino, Aron Cruz, Ralph Tan, Armando Hernandez Jr., and one unidentified male with the alias “Mc Gregor.”
Eleven of the accused are at-large except for Mr. Gregor, the complaint noted.
Another complaint filed by Adamson students Alexander Marcelo and Earl Abuda accused 19 respondents.
They include Tung Cheng Teng, Early Romero, Jerome Balot, Sandro Victorino, Michael Ritalde, Mark Pedros, and Daniel Perry, all of whom are under the custody of the Binan Central Police, according to the complaint.
Rounding out the 19 respondents are the 12 frat members who were named in the elder Salilig’s complaint.
Meanwhile, a person of interest was earlier found dead in his home, allegedly by suicide.
READ: Person of interest in Adamson student’s death found dead – police
John Matthew Salilig was reported missing on Feb. 18, the same day he had attended the Tau Gamma Phi’s fraternity initiation. Ten days later on Feb. 28, his body was found buried in a shallow grave in a vacant lot in Imus, Cavite.
Authorities determined that he was most likely killed by hazing. An autopsy showed that he had succumbed to severe blunt force trauma to the lower extremities, injuries which could be linked to fraternity initiation rituals.
A leader of the fraternity earlier told CNN Philippines’ News Night that the Adamson Chapter of Tau Gamma Phi refused to comply with the fraternity’s no-contact policy during initiation rites.
CNN Philippines Senior Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report.
