10 held for hazing in Batangas
AT LEAST 10 persons were arrested by authorities for hurting a woman when they allegedly performed hazing in Lipa City, Batangas the other day.
Lipa City Police Station chief Lt. Col Lory M. Tarrazona identified the victim as Ellyse Kristen Leigh Punzalan.
Police Corporals Bernard Bryan R. Leynes and Davidson A. Areta brought to the Lipa City Police Station the suspects identified as Alma Lanorio y Fabella, John James Bordeos y Mabesa, Patrick Lloyd Aala y Melgar, Jay-C Antiguerra y Hibalo, Earel Manalo y Salvador, Angelita Villarin y Danayo, Christian Cuerdo y Sabellina, Romar Soriano, Alias Ken, and Alias Kier Vincent in connection with the complaint of the victim.
According to Punzalan, at around 5 o’ clock in the morning on August 15, she was fetched by Antiguerra at her house and brought to a vacant lot located at Bgy. Sabang, Lipa City wherein more or less 20 members of Alpha Khapa Rho were present.
Upon arrival at the place of the incident at about 9 a.m. on the same date, one of the members blindfolded the victim.
Afterward, the suspects started tasks as part of a program of rigorous physical training and initiation to the victim by repeatedly hitting her thigh with the use of a paddle.
After the incident, Antiguerra brought her home at about noon on the same date.
Police said the grandmother of the victim immediately confronted Antiguerra who admitted that the victim was hit with a paddle as part of the initiation rites of Alpha Khapa Rho. The victim affirmed the statement of Antiguerra.
The relatives of the victim immediately sought the assistance of the police that resulted in the arrest of the 10 individuals who may be charged for violation of Republic Act (RA) 11053, or the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018, and RA 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
