Three persons nabbed for teen’s hazing death

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police arrested three persons linked to the death of a male teenager who died of hazing in San Enrique, Negros Occidental in September 2021.

Arrested on Dec 28, 2021 at their respective houses were Johnrey Ermosillas, 19; Niel John Villarde, 25; and Rexie Daylosan, 30, all residents of Barangay Guintorilan, by virtue of an arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law with no bail recommended.

Police Lieutenant Sammy Gasataya, deputy police chief of San Enrique Municipal Police Station, said the prosecutor found probable cause to file the case in court against the three individuals after the 18-year-old victim made a “dying declaration” to his parents identifying them as allegedly involved in the hazing.

It can be recalled that the victim was recruited to join a fraternity in March 2021, but the initiation was not conducted because he was still a minor that time.

But when the victim turned 18 on Sept 3, three members of a fraternity held the initiation rites, wherein the victim was reportedly paddled early morning of Sept 4.

On Sept 8, the victim got sick and died the following day. The post-mortem examination result of the victim showed hematoma on his buttocks.

Aside from the dying declaration of the victim, Gasataya said a paddle recovered from the house of one of the alleged suspects was also used as evidence in filing of the case.

Gasataya said the three suspects, who are now under police custody, denied the allegations against them.