PNP vows to resolve case of alleged hazing victim John Matthew Salilig

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday vowed to resolve the case of the death of alleged hazing victim Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig.

The PNP issued the remark after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) urged the police to expedite the investigation into the death of Salilig so that proper charges would be filed against the perpetrators.

“We want to assure yung CHED, pati na rin yung ating mga kababayan at ilang mambabatas na hinihimok ang PNP na tutukan ang kasong ito, asahan ninyo po ang PNP po ay gagawin lahat ng makakaya makakaya within its authority and mandate para resolbahin at tapusin ang kaso na ito,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said at the public briefing.

(We want to assure the CHED, as well as our compatriots and some legislators, who are urging the PNP to focus on this case, that the PNP will do everything within its authority and mandate to resolve this case.)

Fajardo said the Calabarzon Regional Forensic Unit is currently conducting a forensic investigation on the vehicle that was used to transport the victim and the residential place where the initiation rights took place.

She also said the 23-year-old suspect Daniel Perry, who allegedly buried the victim and master initiator of the initiation rights, is now under the custody of Biñan Police.

Perry surrendered before Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla on Thursday.

A fraternity neohpythe identified the persons involved in the alleged hazing. Six of them underwent inquest proceedings at the Department of Justice on Thursday.

Investigation showed that Salilig went through the welcoming rites of the Tau Gamma Phi chapter on the afternoon of February 19. 

The victim reportedly was no longer in good condition in the middle of the rites. They were already on their way back to Manila when the victim died.

Instead of bringing the victim to the hospital, the suspects allegedly decided to bury him in Cavite.

Hazing cases

Meanwhile, Fajardo said there were 122 cases related to hazing recorded from 2016 to 2023.

The PNP spokesperson said they were continuously coordinating with the schools to conduct orientation courses and seminars regarding the anti-hazing law.

She also said that they will sustain the police assistance desk placed in schools.

"Yun atin pong mga police assistance desk dyan sa mga eskwelahan pinipilit po ng PNP masustain yan at doon po sa mga insidente kung saan may mga naitala tayong karahasan sa mga estudyante po natin eh nagdagdag po tayo ng ating mga pulis dyan,” Fajardo said.

(We continue to maintain the police assistance desk in schools and we added police force in places where incidents of violence among students have been recorded.)

“Yung ating chief PNP po ay nag-utos sa ating field commanders to constantly coordinate sa ating mga school administrators at if there is a need kung magrerequest po sila ng ating mga pulis sa loob mismo ng eskwelahan ay kaagad naman po tinutugunan ng PNP,” she added.

(Our PNP chief has ordered our field commanders to constantly coordinate with our school administrators and if they request our police inside the school, the PNP will respond immediately.)

She said they are also maintaining the maximum police visibility in schools in order to prevent these kinds of incidents among the students. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News