An eyewitness has surfaced and revealed details of the fraternity hazing that led to the death of 20-year-old San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos last July 30, according to a report from GMA 7 program “24 Oras”.

 

Marcos died of extensive traumatic injuries in his upper and lower extremities during an alleged initiation rite of the Lex Leonum Fraternity at a farm in Dasmariñas, Cavite.

 

In a sworn statement, Cornelio Marcelo, a member of the fraternity who was present at the initiation, revealed that Marcos underwent four stages of hazing, starting with a “welcome” in which he received 20 blows from a paddle-like wooden bat on his thighs. 

 

Marcos then received no less than 59 more blows on his shoulders and thighs in the second stage of the initiation, where wrong answers to questions merited a wallop.

 

According to Marcelo, Marcos fell over during the third stage, almost landing face-first on the ground. He then went on to endure a fourth round during which he received more blows from several directions.  

 

Marcelo said that he acted as one of the "angels" of the neophytes. He said he asked his companions to stop hitting Marcos but that his companions continued nonetheless. 

 

Marcos collapsed when the initiation was almost over. 

 

“Kulay ube” and “kulay talong”

 

"Nakakalungkot po na kelangang basahin ko uli ang kanyang salaysay at parang nakikita ko kung paano naghirap ang aking anak,” Engr. Mac Marcos, Andrei's father, said of Marcelo's narration. 

 

An uncle of Marcos has said that his arms and legs were "kulay ube" when they saw his dead body.  

 

In addition to narrating what happened at the initiation, Marcelo also named the officers and other members of the fraternity in his affidavit. 

 

Aside from Marcelo, two neophytes also surfaced last month and voluntarily gave information, but couldn't reveal more as they said they were blind-folded during the rites and were not aware of what was happening to Marcos.

 

The police noted the two neophytes also had bruises from the navel-on-down that were ‘kulay talong.’ 

 

Fraternity willing to cooperate

 

The fraternity at the center of the hazing controversy had promised to cooperate in the probe. 

 

"Naniniwala ako na lahat yan, idadaan sa proseso. Like what happened, na nag-file ng demanda, sasagutin yung demanda, then let the wheels of justice turn," said Atty. Ariel Inton, an alumnus of the fraternity. 

 

The San Beda School of Law administration and the Law Student Government have also condemned the hazing incident, saying fraternities and sororities are not recognized by the administration.

 

Thirty-seven suspects have been charged in the case, including the eyewitness Marcelo, Gelo Villanueva, the fraternity leader who recruited Marcos, and Gian Angelo Veluz, an official of the fraternity and the son of the owner of the farm where the hazing allegedly took place. — AE, DVM, GMA News