Cops cordon off suspected frat house where alleged fatal hazing occurred

(Updated 11:24 a.m.) Police on Wednesday cordoned off a house in Makati City believed used by a fraternity in the fatal alleged hazing of a student of De La Salle University-College of St. Benilde last June 28.

This was after a police team led by Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban Jr. visited the house on Calatagan Street in Barangay Palanan.

A photo tweeted by GMA News' Steve Dailisan showed police guarding the house and establishing a police line around it.

Photos posted by dzBB's dela Cruz on Twitter showed Lukban approaching the gate of the house.

Sr. Supt. Lukban, binisita ang bahay sa Calatagan St., Brgy. Palanan kung saan naganap ang hazing. | Mao Dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/J227WSOV7H

— GMA News (@gmanews) July 2, 2014
 
 
 

The Makati police joined the investigation after a suspect, a member of a fraternity, surrendered to Manila police Tuesday and claimed the hazing occurred in Makati.

Earlier Wednesday, radio dzBB's Mao dela Cruz reported police had identified the place where DLSU-CSB student Guillo Servando and three other neophytes underwent initiation rites.

They were found in a condominium in Manila after the initiation rites late Saturday. Servando died from his injuries while the three others were hospitalized.

Earlier, dzBB reported the Makati City police clarified it has not yet taken custody of the boardinghouse's caretaker.

Police also consider the caretaker more as an informant than a suspect, at least for now.

Waiting for complainants

In a separate interview with GMA News Online, Lukban said they are still waiting for the formal complaints of the victims before a case will be filed.

"Allegedly, within the day raw isa-submit ang reklamo ang lawyers ng victims," he said.

On the other hand, Lukban also noted that the member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity who surrendered to police to Tuesday is not yet considered a suspect.

However, "he may still be considered a suspect if he will be included [once] the family of the victims will file a complaint against him."

The frat member, whose name was withheld for security reasons, claimed the hazing occurred in Barangay Palanan in Makati City.



— Joel Locsin with a report from Amanda Fernandez/LBG/KG, GMA News