The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) has taken legal action against four individuals from the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in connection with the hazing death of 25-year-old Aldryn Leary Bravante, a fourth-year student at the Philippine College of Criminology, which occurred on October 16.

In an official statement released on Thursday, QCPD Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan disclosed that the suspects, namely Justin Artates, Mark Leo Andales, Kyle Michael de Castro, and Lexer Angelo Manarpies, have been charged with violating Republic Act 11053, also known as the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018. These charges were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday.

Maranan added that on Wednesday, Artates and de Castro provided extrajudicial confessions with the assistance of their legal counsel, Melvin Bughao. During these confessions, they revealed the names and addresses of other fraternity members involved in the incident.

Furthermore, two additional suspects implicated in the case have turned themselves into authorities. John Arvin Kaylle Diocena, aged 23, surrendered to the QCPD on Thursday at approximately 10:50 a.m., accompanied by his aunt. Diocena, a resident of Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City, was among those identified by Artates and de Castro during their confessions.

On Wednesday at around 5 p.m., 18-year-old John Xavier Arcosa surrendered to the QCPD Police Station 1, accompanied by his parents. Both Diocena and Arcosa are now under the custody of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit.

QCPD Director Maranan urged all individuals involved in the incident, including the 11 individuals who have been named, as well as those yet to be identified, to surrender and cooperate with the investigation to bring justice to the victim’s family. He emphasized that the police would spare no effort to ensure that all individuals involved are arrested and held accountable for their actions.

Aldryn Leary Bravante, a resident of Imus, Cavite, was rushed to the hospital by Artates and de Castro around 7 p.m. on October 16 after becoming unconscious during the initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in an abandoned building in Quezon City. Unfortunately, he was declared dead at the hospital by an attending physician. A preliminary examination revealed hematoma on both of the victim’s legs and burn marks from cigarettes on his chest and hands.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri emphasized the need for the full force of the law to address hazing incidents, noting that there have been at least five reported deaths since the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 was enacted.

Zubiri expressed his outrage, saying, “The full force of the law must come down on those soulless individuals who killed someone they claim to be their brother.” He referred to Republic Act No. 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which was enacted following the hazing death of Horacio “Atio” Castillo III, a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, in 2017.

He went on to state that the senseless death of Bravante due to this barbaric fraternity tradition is not only enraging but also frustrating, given the efforts to strengthen anti-hazing laws. Zubiri stressed the importance of putting an end to such acts of brutality and ensuring that those who undermine the justice system are held accountable for their actions. (ai/mnm)