In connection with the death of John Matthew Salilig, a student at Adamson, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday recommended that charges be brought by the justice department against 20 officers and members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity for violating the Anti-Hazing Law.
Due to their assistance with the investigation, which included submitting 250-page screenshots of the fraternity’s group chat, three fraternity members were suggested to be star witnesses.
The NBI claimed to have located the fraternity members responsible for organizing the initiation, paddling Salilig, and moving his body to the vacant land in Cavite where he was buried and later discovered.
The five persons of interest who surrendered to the NBI were also brought to the justice department, including an alias “Biggie,” who insisted that he was only an invited guest in the welcoming rites.
Government prosecutors found sufficient evidence on Wednesday to indict 7 Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members for two counts of hazing that resulted in Salilig’s death and the injuries of another recruit.
All 7 fraternity brothers “planned and actually participated in hazing the recruits by way of paddling,” according to a news release from the Department of Justice.
According to reports, Salilig, 24, was allegedly hit 70 times.
Salilig died as a result of severe blunt force trauma to his lower limbs, according to a medicolegal investigation from the Philippine National Police.
