BY NONOY E LACSON
ZAMBOANGA CITY – At least nine officers and members of Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity were arrested by police for their alleged involvement in a hazing that killed a 21-year-old high school student here last Sunday.
Police Regional Office for Zamboanga Peninsula (PRO-9) director Police Brig. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. said the suspects belonging to the Trigusu Chapter of the fraternity allegedly conducted an initiation for six neophytes, including Joselito F. Enviado, a Grade 12 student of Zamboanga City National High School West.
During the initiation, Enviado fainted after being hit with a paddle by the fraternity officers.
He was rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) in this city but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
According to Cambay, the incident happened around 10 a.m. on Sunday in a residence of a fraternity member at Doña Martha Drive in Barangay San Jose Gusu.
He said the police recovered from the group a brown paddle, approximately 108 centimeters in length, which the police believed was used in the fraternity initiation.
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco has ordered the city police to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged hazing death of Enviado.
Climaco also ordered the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) and other city departments concerned to provide the necessary assistance to the victim’s family.
As this developed, four members of the fraternity who were also present during the hazing, voluntarily surrendered to the Zamboanga City Police. They were identified as Reymark Paler, 27; Wendell Cartalaba; 23; Ruvec Cartalaba, 20; and Joseph Villarez, 35, all residents of Doña Martha drive, Barangay San Jose Gusu in this city.
The suspects are now detained at the local police custodial facility pending the filing of formal charges against them for homicide and violation of Republic Act 11053 (The Anti-Hazing Act of 2018). (Nonoy E. Lacson)
