Student in Zamboanga City dies of fraternity hazing

A senior high school student reportedly died of hazing during a fraternity initiation rites in Zamboanga City on Sunday.

Joselito F. Enviado, a 21-year-old resident of Sarangani Drive, Barangay San Jose Guzu in this city, is a Grade 12 student of the Zamboanga City National High School West.

The high school student died at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), where he was taken after he collapsed during Tau Gamma Phi (TGP) fraternity Trigusu Chapter’s initiation rites.

Enviado was declared dead-on-arrival at ZCMC.

Police Region Office-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Brig. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. said Enviado was among the six neophytes who underwent hazing at around 10 am Sunday. The hazing happened at the residence of a TGP member located in Barangay San Jose Guzu.

Cambay said the student fainted as he was being beaten with a paddle during the fraternity’s initiation rites.

Police said at least nine officers and members of the TGP-Trigusu chapter were arrested, while a brown paddle used in the initiation rites was also confiscated from the group.
Four other fraternity members, who were also there during the initiation, have surrendered to the Zamboanga City Police Office.
The suspects were identified as Reymark Paler, 27; Wendell Cartalaba, 23: Ruvec Cartalaba, 20; and Joseph Villarez, 35. All of them are residents of Doña Martha drive, Barangay San Jose Gusu.

Student in Zamboanga City dies of fraternity hazing

Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco has directed Zamboanga City police to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged hazing incident that killed the senior high school student.

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) and other city departments were also ordered to provide the necessary assistance to the Enviado’s family.

The fraternity members arrested were now detained at the local police custodial facility. They would be facing homicide charges and violations of  RA 11053, otherwise known as the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

San Jose Gusu councilor Sai Cortez said officials do not tolerate hazing in their village.

“We discouraged hazing in our barangay,” he said. “This one was secretly done in one of the houses. Even one of our colleagues who stayed adjacent to Cubol’s residence was unaware of what was going on.”