Suspect in fatal hazing of Lucena freshman student nabbed

Authorities had arrested in Manila the suspect in the fatal hazing of a Marine Engineering student in Lucena City in Quezon province in 2008.

The suspect, Raniel Sarmiento, was collared at the corner of Samar and Mindanao Streets in Sampaloc, Manila, according to Chief Inspector Elizabeth Jasmin, spokesperson for the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Sarmiento, 32, was reportedly a member of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity. He was the main suspect in the death of Chester Paulo Abracia, a freshman Marine Engineering student of Enverga University, on August 2, 2008, during hazing rites.

Abracia was found dead at Barangay Mate in Tayabas, Quezon, with multiple injuries on various parts of his body, Jasmin said.

The arresting officers were armed with two warrants of arrest against Sarmiento, one for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law issued by Judge Amy Melba Belulia of San Pablo City Regional Trial Court Branch 30, while the other  was for Reckless Imprudence resulting in homicide issued by Judge Joselito P Tamaray of Lucena City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 2.

Another suspect in the fatal hazing, Michelle Cortez de Subueto, was arrested by Quezon police on June 8, 2015. She is a sister of a police personnel assigned in Lucena. —Andrei Medina/KBK, GMA News