DAVAO City policemen last Sunday arrested eight members of a fraternity accused of involvement in a hazing incident that left one of their neophytes dead and another seriously wounded, Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. said.

Arrested and are now facing non-bailable charges for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law are Jeremiah Moya, the president of the Alpha Kappa Rho Alpha Delta Chapter in Davao City and AKRHO members Leji Wensdy Quibuyen, John Lloyd Sumagang, Harold Joshua Flauta, John Steven Silvoas, Ramel John Gamo, Gilbert Asoy Jr. and Roseller Gaentano.

In a report to Philippine National Police chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., the Southern Mindanao police director said his men are still tracking down at least six others led by one Ryan James Ranolo for their involvement in the deadly hazing incident.

He said that prior to the arrest of the eight suspects, the Mandug Police Station 13 of the Davao City Police Office received a report that a dead man’s body was discovered in Purok Santo Niño in Sison Village, Upper Mandug in Buhangin District past 2 p.m. Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Silo said that officers who responded to the scene later discovered the bodies of 19-year old August Caezar Saplot, a college student from Purok 9 Upper Panungtungan in Tibungco area and Michael Angelo Ligaya,18, also a college student from Purok 21, Saluroh Village in Talomo Proper.

The official said that both victims were taken to a local hospital where an attending physician declared Saplot dead upon arrival. Ligaya is still recuperating from the injuries he sustained as a result of the hazing he underwent at the hands of the accused, Silo added.

The PRO11 director said that an investigation showed that the two were subjected to beatings by the accused led by Moya,23; and Quibuyen,22, who was identified as the ‘master initiator’ of the group.

The other suspects were identified as Sumagang,25, the vice president of the AKRHO Alpha Delta Chapter; Flauta,22; Silvosa,18; Gamo,24; Asoy,20; and Gaentano,25. All accused are residents of different areas in Davao City.

Still being hunted are Ranolo,23; and Kadjo Matobato,22, both tagged as ‘master initiators’ of the fraternity; Harold Gocotano,22; John Bacacao,20; Cheri Norico,20;; and George Regalado,22, a fraternity neophyte.

Brig. Gen. Silo said that that Saplot was not breathing anymore when his body was found by first responders from the 911 Cabantian Station Ambulance 13.

However, Saplot and his fellow hazing victim Ligaya were taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Bajada, Davao City where the former was declared dead upon arrival.

The official said that during an interview, Ligaya said that the accused subjected them to hazing in a vacant lot in Kinto Limbo in Bgy. Santo Niño in Mandug said to be owned by the father of one of the suspects identified as Regalado.

After they were hazed, the survivor said he and Saplot joined their ‘masters’ in going to the house of Regalado in Purok Santo Niño purposely to unwind. However, Saplot suddenly collapsed in the area prompting the accused to call for emergency help.

Brig. Gen. Silo said that recovered at the scene were a black leather belt and two AKRHO application papers. “My men are still searching for the wooden paddles used by the accused in hitting the victims in their legs,” said the official.

The eight arrested suspects were informed of their constitutional rights before being arrested and taken to the local police station.

The other suspects were said to have fled with the deadly wooden paddles after realizing they could have killed their recruit.