Two of at least 15 juveniles in alleged hazing done at a cemetery have been identified by Oton Municipal Police in the Province of Iloilo.
Minors were caught in a video inside Oton Catholic Cemetery on March 23, 2025 punching, kicking, and trampling upon fellow juveniles in what seemed to be an initiation rite.
According to Lt. Col. Abner Jordan, chief of Oton Municipal Police Station, the two minors are residents of Oton.
The rest of the minors in the video have been tracked down, as of posting time.
“Nakilala sila sa pamamagitan ng pagtulong ng mga barangay officials at ng mga united fraternities dito sa bayan ng Oton. Hindi pa naman sila umaamin, ang sabi nila nandoon lang sila sa lugar pero wala silang kinalaman,” Jordan said.
In the video of the alleged hazing incident that circulated on social media, juveniles in blindfolds were assaulted physically by other minors.
The caretaker of the cemetery said that he spotted around 15 young males gathered in the premises of the cemetery on March 23, 2025.
A few residents of Barangay Poblacion South, Oton said that persons of minor ages are seen hanging out frequently outside of the cemetery.
“Mayroong namamasyal diyan kung minsan. Pero hindi namin alam kung ano ang trip nila o kung saan sila pumupunta. Usually, mga ganitong oras o gabi,” Meg Fabian, a resident, said.
Earlier, Oton National High School said the juveniles in the viral video are not its students.
GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas tried to seek a comment from the principal of Botong-Cabanbanan National High School but she refused an interview.
As for Maricor Venturanza, councilwoman of Cabanbanan, she said that the juveniles are not residents of their barangay.
“Wala. Wala namang confirmation at wala namang pumunta dito sa barangay na nag-complain,” Venturanza said.
According to Oton Rural Health Unit (RHU), no one sought treatment from them of injuries sustained from hazing.
“Wala, kasi usually, dito sa amin, once na mga minor may kasama talagang mga magulang,” Dr. Sally Ticao, head of Oton RHU, said.
