Student dies in alleged hazing just months after older sibling dies in accident

Student dies in alleged hazing just months after older sibling dies in accident

The family of a 25-year-old criminology student called for justice following his death by hazing only months after an older sibling died in an accident.

In a 24 Oras report by Emil Sumangil on Tuesday, victim Ahldryn Bravante left behind a father, an OFW mother, siblings, a live-in partner, and a child.

“Hindi ko po kasi mapaniwalaan na mangyayari yun eh,” said Ahldryn’s mother, Cherryl Bravante. “Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya nag si-sink-in sa isip ko. Sana lang, mabigyan ng hustisya. ‘Yun lang ang hinihingi namin.”

(I can’t believe this happened. Until now, it still hasn’t sunk in. I only hope that we will be given justice. That’s all we ask.)

“Sa nakita ko po na inabot, grabe sobra. Parang hindi makatao, parang hayop eh. Ang sakit sobra,” she added.

(From what I saw, it’s too much. It’s not humane, it’s beastly. It hurts so much.)

According to the Quezon City Police District, Ahldryn allegedly went through a hazing initiation rite for the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity on Monday night.

“Kung makikita po natin sa katawan ng biktima, talaga naman may bakas ng palo sa katawan ng biktima. May mga tama sa parte ng katawan niya, lalo na sa parte po ng pwet at hita,” said QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit Chief Police Major Dondon Llapitan.

(If you see the victim’s body, it was evident that he was beaten. There were blows in different parts of his body, especially on his rear and thighs.)

According to police reports and witness statements, Ahldryn complained of pain and dizziness after the initiation rites.

He was rushed to hospital by two fraternity members, but he was declared dead on arrival due to his injuries.

The two members and two others were taken into custody as persons of interest while the police are searching for ten other possible suspects who were said to have been involved in the rites.

“’Yung mga pulis natin sa MPD, inaresto agad ang mga tao na yun at nasa kustodiya na natin. ‘Yung 2 naman na allegedly miyembro rin ng fraternity na yan, sumuko sa CIDG at tinurn over kaninang madaling araw sa atin,” Llapitan said.

(The MPD police immediately arrested those people and they have been placed under our custody. The other two, who are also alleged members of the fraternity, surrendered to the CIDG and were turned over to us earlier this morning.)

Meanwhile, the Philippine College of Criminology said that they implemented the necessary steps to condemn hazing rites and disown any organization still resorting to harsh initiation ceremonies.

Ahldryn is the 12th reported hazing death linked to the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity since 1995 and comes just months after the death of Adamson Student John Matthew Salilig.

The Tau Gamma Phi PCCR chapter has yet to issue a statement on the incident. — Jiselle Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News