Four suspects involved in the hazing death of criminology student Ahldryn Baravante were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit (CIDU) in Camp Karingal on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023. (Mark Balmores)
A criminology student died from hazing-induced injuries inflicted on him by members of a fraternity at an abandoned building in Quezon City on Monday, Oct. 16, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
Police identified the victim as Ahldryn Lery Chua Bravante, 25, from Imus, Cavite, a fourth year criminology student at the Philippine College of Criminology, who died after hazing which was part of the initiation rites of the fraternity.
The QCPD said that Manila Police District (MPD) Station 3 personnel went to the Chinese General Hospital at about 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16, after it received a report about an unconscious man who sustained physical injuries and was brought by two other men in the hospital for treatment.
During police questioning, the two men who brought the victim to the hospital, identified as Justine Artates, 20, a 3rd year PCCR criminology student, and Kyle Cordeta, 21, revealed that they were members of Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity - PCCR Chapter, and Bravante was a “neophyte” who underwent initiation rites.
The hazing activity was conducted beside an abandoned building of a condominium located along Calamba Street, Barangay Sto Domingo, Quezon City at around 2 p.m. on Monday.
Bravante reportedly had difficulty in breathing and became unconscious after the hazing activity which prompted the two to bring him to the hospital where he was declared dead-on-arrival.
Artates and Cordeta were then taken under police custody and were brought the the QPCD for investigation.
The Scene of the Crime Operatives Team from the QCPD Forensic Unit conducted the technical aspect of the investigation at the site of the initiation. They recovered six bottles of water in the area.
Meanwhile, two other suspects in the hazing, identified as Lexer Manarpies and Mark Leo Andales, both 20 years old and students of the PCCR, turned themselves in to the police at about 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday.
Police said that a cursory examination showed that the victim sustained hematoma on both of his legs and marks of burned cigarette on his chest and both hands.
The incident is still under investigation, the QCPD said.