Two other alleged hazing victims surface, now under police custody

Published August 3, 2012 5:29pm

(Updated 6:30 p.m.) Two neophytes have surfaced and voluntarily gave information on the circumstances surrounding the alleged hazing incident that led to the death of San Beda law student Marc Andre Marcos in Cavite province last Monday.

On Friday, Senior Superintendent John Bulalacao, Cavite provincial police chief, said the two 21-year-old law students — later identified as Ephraim Daniel Lara and Christopher Ryan Maranan, batchmates of Marcos — are afraid for their safety. Both claimed that their names have allegedly been dragged into inquires on Marcos’ death.

Lara and Maranan said they surfaced because they have been named in the anonymous letter sent to police and Marc Andre's family. The letter included a narration of the supposed events that took place prior to, and during the alleged hazing incident. Also in the letter, the names of 33 people allegedly involved in the hazing were included. According to Lara and Maranan, the fact that they surfaced is proof that they are not among those who conducted the hazing, but instead were victims themselves. Chief Superintendent James Melad, Police Regional Office 4A chief, said Maranan and Lara are willing to help in the investigation on Marc Andre's death.

Not aware?

According to interviews with the police, the two neophytes were blindfolded throughout the initiation rites, so they were not aware of what was happening to Marcos at the time. The initiation rites lasted two days, from July 28 to 29, the supposed hazing victims said. An initial police investigation showed that like Marcos, the two neophytes have bruises from the navel down that were ‘kulay talong.’ Earlier, a relative of Marcos, lawyer Jose Vener Ibarra, said Marc Andre's arms and legs were ‘kulay ube’ when he was brought to the De La Salle Medical Center in Dasmarinas Cavite. 19 students The victims also revealed that there were 19 students who underwent initiation rites Monday. Nine of the 19 were neophytes, including them and Marcos. According to police, the two victims and Marcos were under Gian Veluz, son of the owner of a farm in Dasmariñas, Cavite, where the initiation rites allegedly took place. Veluz is one of three tagged suspects the police are searching for. Police said the two victims are under close medical attention. — with Emil Sumangil and Patricia Denise Chiu/RSJ, GMA News

Tags: hazing, marcandremarcos