Complaint filed vs 7th suspect in Tau Gamma Phi hazing death
‘WASTED DREAMS’ | His family describes Adamson University chemistry junior John Matthew Salilig as the “brainiest” among seven siblings. On Tuesday, his body was found in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite, days after attending Tau Gamma Phi’s initiation rites in Biñan City. (Photo from Cavite Provincial Police Office)
MANILA, Philippines — Police have filed a criminal complaint against a seventh suspect in the death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig during a brutal “welcoming rites” of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in Laguna province on Feb. 18.
Daniel Perry, the “master initiator” of Tau Gamma’s Adamson chapter, was booked for inquest proceedings on Saturday at the Department of Justice in Manila for violating the anti-hazing law on two counts.
Perry surrendered to Cavite Gov. Jonvic Remulla on Thursday, saying he turned himself in out of guilt and fear for his life.
He admitted he was among those who buried Salilig’s body in a shallow grave in a vacant lot in Barangay Malagasang I-G in Imus, Cavite, before it was found 10 days later, on Feb. 28.
Perry is now detained at the Biñan police station along with six other frat men and co-accused: Tung Cheng Teng Jr., 22, the “Grand Triskelion” or leader of Tau Gamma’s Adamson chapter; Earl Anthony Romero, 21; Jerome Balot, 22; Sandro Victorino, 28; Michael Lambert Ritalde, 31; and Mark Pedrosa, 39.
Article continues after this advertisementEach faces a prison term of 20 to 40 years and a fine of P3 million for each count should they be convicted.
Article continues after this advertisementSalilig’s brother, John Michael, and Roi Osmond Tuazon Dela Cruz, a 21-year-old neophyte who underwent hazing with Salilig, were named complainants.
9 still at large
Binãn City police chief Lt. Col. Virgilio Jopia also urged two other victims who also underwent hazing to cooperate in the investigation to strengthen the case.
The two victims, who were only identified by their codenames “Lee” and “Bin Laden,” have yet to surface.
Another person of interest, a certain “Sakmal,” died reportedly of suicide in Taguig City on Feb. 28, the same day that the decomposing body of Salilig was found in Imus.
But the family of Salilig has asked authorities to ascertain the truth about the suicide.
Jeoffrey Salilig, Matthew’s father, said the claim must be taken with a grain of salt until proof was presented.
Nine more persons of interest, who are all members of Tau Gamma’s Adamson chapter, remain at large. Jopia said some of them have sent surrender feelers.
An autopsy found that Salilig died due to “severe blunt trauma to the lower extremities.” His body was mangled from his chest down to his thighs.
Witnesses told investigators Salilig was beaten with a paddle more than 70 times, during which he vomited and even defecated himself.
Three of the vehicles used during the crime — a blue-silver Ford Everest, a silver Mitsubishi Adventure, and a grey Hyundai Tucson — are now impounded at the Biñan police station.
Jopia is confident that they’ve built a strong case against the suspects.
“The participation of the suspect, Mr. Perry, was from the very beginning until they buried the body of the victim, he was there, he was present,” Jopia said.
In Cebu City, the National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7) has stepped in to investigate the death of second-year maritime student Ronnel Baguio who also died during a Tau Gamma Phi initiation rites in December last year.
Rennan Augustus Oliva, director of NBI-7, on Friday said they were asked by the Public Attorney’s Office to conduct the probe.
NBI-7 Assistant Director Dominador Cimafranca was tasked to lead the probe.
The Cebu City police have already identified six suspects in Baguio’s death.
