Fratmen linked to Salilig hazing case plead not guilty

All of the accused in the death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to hazing charges before the Biñan Regional Trial Court.

This was confirmed by the panel of prosecutors to GMA News Online.

Prosecutors said the accused attended the hearing through videoconferencing.

The panel also confirmed that one of the accused filed a petition for bail.

According to the prosecutors, the pre-trial hearing is set on May 3 while the bail hearing will be held on May 17 at the Biñan RTC.

The case stemmed from the complaint for violation of the Anti-Hazing Law against Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members Earl Anthony Romero, Jerome Balot, Sandro Victorino, Michael Lambert Ritalde, Mark Pedrosa, master initiator Daniel Perry, and grand triskelion Tung Cheng Teng.

The complaint was submitted for resolution in early March.

The body of Salilig, 24, was found in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite, on February 28, ten days after he was reported missing. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News