Marc Andrei Marcos, the freshman student from the San Beda College of Law, died from injuries he suffered during fraternity initiation rites in Dasmarinas City, Cavite police confirmed Wednesday as they named a member of the family that owned the farm where the hazing took place and two helpers as suspects..
Cavite provincial police director Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao told reporters that their investigation showed that what had been originally reported as a “mauling incident” was, in fact an initiation rite of a fraternity of San Beda so kaya patuloy ang aming investigation at sinusubukan naming ma-identify ‘yung mga kasama sa initiation rite (we are continuing our investigation and trying to identify who were at the initiation rite)."
He added that they are investigating the Lex Leonum Fraternitas fraternity in the death of Marcos.
Suspects
Bulalacao said fourth year San Beda-Alabang law student Gian Angelo Velus, a member of the fraternity whose family owns the farm where Marcos was initiated, and two helpers -- Soledad Sanda and Marlen Guadayo --are now considered suspects.
He said that a security guard at the De La Salle University Medical Center had positively identified Velus as among those who took Marcos to the hospital late Sunday night and where he died Monday afternoon. Police had earlier identified only Sanda and Guadayo.
Both helpers have gone missing since they visited the Dasmarinas police station Monday, Bulalacao said.
Autopsy report
Philippine National Police spokesman, Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., said the findings of the autopsy conducted on Marcos showed injuries consistent with what fraternity initiates typically suffer.
In fact, he said, the cause of Marcos' death -- "extensive traumatic injuries of upper and lower extremities" -- was similar to that of another San Beda law freshman, Marvin Reglos, who died of hazing in February.
The report on the autopsy conducted by the Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame, a copy of which was obtained by Interaksyon.com, noted hematoma or blood clotting in Marcos’ arms and legs and his "stomach and the intestines are filled with reddish fluids."
(Click here to read the full autopsy report)
"Bugbog eh, pero makikita naman natin na nagko-concetrate ‘yung bugbog sa hita, sa extremities, sa paa at saka sa kamay (He was badly mauled but we can see that the injuries were concentrated on his thighs, his extremities, the arms and the legs)," Cerbo said.
‘Shouting, laughing, moaning’
Bulalacao said on Sunday afternoon witnesses saw “20 to 25” arrive in “five to six vehicles” at the farm owned by the Velus family in Lt. Cantimbuhan St., Sitio Bisaya, Barangay Zone 3 in Dasmarinas City.
They later heard the sounds of "shouting, laughing and some were moaning" from the right wing of the farmhouse where the group had gone.
Prominent family
"Bale du’n nakatutok ang aming investigation sa possible involvement nitong Lex Leonum Fraternitas kasi itong si Gian Velus, he is a member of that fraternity (So our investigation is focused on the possible involvement of this Lex Leonum Fraternitas because this Gian Velus is a member of that fraternity)," Bulalacao said.
He said Velus has been invited for questioning.
Bulalacao described the Velus family as a prominent Dasmarinas clan.
Gian Velus’ father, Ethan, is a former city councilor in the city and has professed ignorance about the events at their farm, he said.
"He (Ethan) says he knows nothing about the activity, about the incident and his family members do not know kung ano man talagang nangyari sa sinasabing insidente (what really happened during the incident)," Bulalacao said.
He said the elder Velus also denied that Sanda and Guadayo work on the farm.
Bulalacao said the young Velus had earlier been invited for questioning.
San Beda has vowed its full support in the investigation of Marcos’ death.
source: interaksyon.com