Driver of AUV in Salilig case found dead in Taguig

The alleged driver of the grey AUV that carried the body of hazing victim John Matthew Salilig before it was buried was found dead on Tuesday.

According to Chino Gaston's report on "24 Oras", Biñan police no longer identified the member of the fraternity out of respect for his grieving family.

He was reportedly a victim of suicide.

“Ito yung Mitsubishi Adventure na ginamit upang ihatid yung cadaver or labi ng ating biktima. Si alias ‘Sakmal’ which is kasama siya. Ito ay alumni na ito, hindi na ito enrolled. Siya yung nag-drive ng sasakyan na ito. Unfortunately, hindi na natin siya naabutan na buhay,” Biñan City Police acting chief Police Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Jopia said.

The grey AUV is now in the custody of the police.

The blue SUV vehicle which was first used to transport Salilig after the initiation rights in Laguna is also under the custody of the police.

The 23-year-old suspect Daniel Perry, who allegedly buried the victim and was master initiator of the initiation rites, is set to attend inquest proceedings on Saturday.

Seven out of 15 suspects involved in the death of Salilig are currently under the custody of the police.

They will face a preliminary investigation before the Department of Justice on March 10.

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

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

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. —Richa Noriega/NB, GMA Integrated News