CAVITE – The fire that broke out in the vacant lot where the alleged hazing of 19-year-old maritime student Mark Kenneth Alcedo took place will not affect the police investigation, Cavite Police Provincial Office (Cavite PPO) said.

In a press conference on Friday, March 6, Col. Ariel R. Red, Cavite PPO director, said the authorities have already processed the scene prior to the fire.

“As kung makaka-affect sa kaso, hindi na po. Kasi before pa man nasunog 'yun, nagkaroon ng sunog, natapos na po 'yung proseso ng SOCO natin (As to whether it will affect the case, no. Even before the fire occurred, the scene of the crime operatives had already completed its processing of the scene),” Red said.

During the same press conference, Department of the Interior Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla demanded the immediate surrender of the identified members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity linked to the fatal hazing of Alcedo.

“This is unacceptable. This is the second time in four years na nangyari sa lalawigan ko na may namatay sa hazing incident (This is the second time in four years that it happened in my province that someone died in a hazing incident) belonging to the same fraternity,” the former Cavite governor stated.

Remulla also stated that Tau Gamma Phi promised to cooperate fully and “reform the culture of violence in their initiations.”

Several officials have extended their condolences to Alcedo’s family in Dasmariñas, including Cavite Governor Abeng Remulla and General Trias Mayor Jon-Jon Ferrer, who facilitated the surrender of one of the suspects in the case.

Alcedo’s school, the Philippine Nautical and Technological Colleges (PNTC), meanwhile, appealed to members of its community to come forward with any information that may help the investigation, assuring that the identities of those who report details will be kept strictly confidential.

In a statement, PNTC condemned hazing and said it is strictly prohibited within its institution.