Police are awaiting an arrest warrant for a suspect in the death of first year San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos. The 22-year-old Marcos died on July 30, allegedly due to hazing.

Police are still searching for Gian Angelo Veluz, after his father Angelito Veluz failed to surrender him on August 3. The elder Veluz is the owner of the farm in Dasmariñas where the initiation rites allegedly took place.

 

"Hindi rin magtatagal kapag nakatanggap na kami ng warrant of arrest galing sa court laban sa kanya (Veluz), magfu-full blast na po ang aming operation. Pagka naisampa na namin ito ngayon o bukas, irerequest na namin sa court na magkaroon ng speedy disposition ito para makapagpalabas kaagad sila ng warrant of arrest," Cavite provincial police director Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao said in an interview on GMA News' Unang Hirit on Monday.

 

 

 

"May bigat yung kanilang sinumpaang salaysay pero kailangan kasing intiindihin natin yung kanilang concern. Kaya nila ipinakausap sa akin yun dahil talaga namang kailangan i-consider yung safety nila. Pangalawa, nagkaroon na sila ng feeling of loyalty sa kanilang grupo. Ganunpaman, yung kanilang ibinigay na statement sa amin ay malaki na ang maitutulong doon sa ating ginagawa na imbestigasyon," he said.

 

Bulalacao urged anyone with information to get in touch with the Cavite Police Provincial Office, or contact him at 09175020828. "'Yung isang anonymous texter sa akin, yun ang nagbigay ng lead doon sa restaurant at sa bar and grill na may cctv kung saan silang unang nag assemble," he said.

 

Bulalacao also said the father of Veluz may also be held accountable. "Kasama siya dahil base doon sa anti-hazing law, whoever is the registered owner of the property or facility where the initiation rites were conducted is also liable under the law," he said.

 

"Nakakalungkot nga po na 'yun ay isang pangako lang pala hindi naman niya tutuparin. Regardless, matutunton po naman siguro siya," said the victim's father, Mac Ferdie Marcos.

Help in the investigation

Now that Marc Andre has been laid to rest, his family can devote their time to helping police with the investigation. 

 

"Ngayon po at nailibing na, magkakaroon na po kami ng sapat na panahon para makipagugnayan sa pulisya at tumulong mangalap ng mga impormasyon para sa mga investigators," the elder Marcos said.

 

Marcos was buried on August 5 in Tarlac.

The elder Marcos also said they have received feelers from other neophytes of the Lex Leonum fraternity, which his son was seeking entry to.

 

"May mga nagpapadala sa amin ng mga feeler ng mga intention nila na magbigay ng impormasyon. Kapag nangyari po yun ay makikipagcoordinate kami sa ating kapulisan," he said.

He added that they will keep in touch with the family of Marvin Reglos, another San Beda law student who died last February, also allegedly due to hazing.

 

"May ugnayan na po kami. Nakausap ko na sila, sinabi nila yung mga dapat gawin, mga dapat hindi gawin. Nangako po na magkakaroon kami ng ugnayan palagi," said Marcos. The Reglos family sympathized with the Marcos family during the wake last week.

Officials from San Beda were also at the wake. "Nangako sila na makiki-cooperate sa pagtugis sa mga nagkasala rito. Naramdaman po namin na sincere naman ang offer nilang ito," said Marcos. 

 

In an earlier report, San Beda College Alabang Law School Dean Atty. Ulpiano Sarmiento said they are conducting a parallel probe based on an anonymous letter that tagged several students and alumni in Marcos' death. — with Carmela Lapeña/RSJ, GMA News