ZAMBOANGA CITY – A 21-year-old senior high school student reportedly died during initiation rites of a fraternity here on Sunday.
Joselito F. Enviado, a resident of Sarangani Drive, Barangay San Jose Guzu in this city, and a Grade 12 student of the Zamboanga City National High School West, died at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC) where he was taken after he collapsed during initiation rites of the Tau Gamma Phi (TGP) fraternity, Trigusu Chapter.
Enviado was declared dead on-arrival at ZCMC.
According to Police Region Office-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Brig. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr., Enviado was among the six neophytes who underwent initiation at around 10 a.m., Sunday, at the residence of a TGP member located in Barangay San Jose Guzu.
He said the victim fainted as he was being beaten with a paddle during the initiation rites.
Cambay reported the arrest of at least nine officers and members of TGP-Trigusu chapter. A brown paddle was also confiscated from the group.
Four other fraternity members, who were reportedly present during the initiation, have surrendered to the Zamboanga City Police Office.
They were identified as Reymark Paler, 27; Wendell Cartalaba, 23: Ruvec Cartalaba, 20; and Joseph Villarez, 35. They were all residents of Doña Martha drive, Barangay San Jose Gusu.
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco has ordered the city police here to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged hazing incident that killed Enviado.
Climaco also ordered the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWD) and other city departments concerned to provide the necessary assistance to the victim's family.
The suspects were now detained at the local police custodial facility while waiting for formal charges to be filed against them for homicide and violation of RA 11053 otherwise known as the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.