Hazing victim John Matthew Salilig laid to rest in Zamboanga City
By Liza Jocson
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Hazing victim John Matthew Salilig was laid to rest in a cemetery here on Saturday, March 4.
Family members and hundreds of sympathizers clad in black shirts, some emblazoned with the image of John Matthew and the call for justice, attended the requiem Mass for John Matthew and his grandfather, Romulo Salilig, whose coffins lay side by side, at the Metropolitan Immaculate Conception Cathedral in this city.
The pews were filled and the air was solemn. Silent but clear cries for justice reverberated throughout the walls of the cathedral.
The common sentiment of the crowd was voiced by Jeofrey Salilig, John Matthew’s father, who said in his eulogy: “Right now, for Matt, what we just want, is we cry for justice, and hopefully justice will be served.”
Jeofrey’s feelings were echoed by his son, John Martin. “For being the best baby brother, thank you. My brother, we will miss you so much. Give us strength that all of us will accept in due time, and we promise you justice will be served.”
Smart, ambitious, and jolly was how John Martin initially described his brother, John Matthew.
In his eulogy, John Martin promised to place a new pair of shoes inside his sibling’s coffin as his “last lambing (affection).”
He said it was the pair requested by John Matthew from his father a few days before his brother passed away.
Sources said funeral organizers made sure not to allow the wearing of any garments related to the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in which the hazing victim was a member to avoid possible untoward incidents during the funeral Mass and burial.
After the mass and funeral rites, mourners proceeded to the cemetery where family members interred John Matthew and the family patriarch.
Romulo died on Feb. 22 from illness and in hindsight, his favorite grandson, John Matthew, might have passed earlier than him.
John Matthew was reported missing on Feb. 18, the same day he underwent hazing rites by the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in Cavite City. He was later found to have succumbed to injuries related to hazing.