3 more suspects in Salilig hazing case plead not guilty

Three more fraternity members linked to the alleged hazing death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig have pleaded not guilty before a Biñan court.

In a message to GMA News Online, the panel of prosecutors said Arjay Camangyan (Snoop), Ralph Tan (Scottie), and Aron Cruz (Bones) entered a plea of not guilty before the Biñan Regional Trial Court Branch 155 through video conference.

“They are currently detained in the NBI detention facility,” the panel said.

The joint trial stemmed from the complaint filed by Earl Justine Abuda or alias Bin Laden and Alexander Marcelo or alias Lee, who were with Salilig during the welcoming rites, as well as the complaint filed by Salilig’s brother, John Michael, and neophyte Roi dela Cruz.

Abuda and Marcelo’s complaint was filed against 17 individuals while Dela Cruz and John Michael’s complaint was filed against 11 individuals and a certain “McGregor.”

Meanwhile, he said the arraignment of Fontanilla or “Mc Gregor” and Christian Cruz was deferred pending the resolution of their motions for reconsideration.

In July, two accused in the case — Armando Hernandez Jr. (Tyler) and Lester Sus (Biggie) — also pleaded not guilty.  

The body of Salilig, 24, was found in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite, on February 28, ten days after he was reported missing.

It was later revealed that Salilig, a member of the Tau Gamma Phi chapter in Zamboanga, joined the welcoming rites for the Adamson chapter in Biñan, Laguna. 

At a recent Senate hearing, Dela Cruz said that Tau Gamma members decided not to bring Salilig to the hospital after he suffered a seizure during the welcoming rites.

“Pagkababa ko po, dun na po nagsi-seizure si Matt. Wala na po siyang malay, sinusundot nila 'yung bibig until nung nawalan ng malay, inakyat nila sa kuwarto,” Dela Cruz said.

[When I got down, it was then that Matt had a seizure. He lost consciousness. They tried to poke his mouth until [Matt] lost his consciousness, and they brought him to the room.]  

"During po nu’ng nagse-seizure s'ya sa baba, nag-request po ako sa kanila na baka puwede dalhin sa ospital. Nagalit po sila sa akin, 'yung Bonez at tsaka 'yung Thugz, kasi bawal daw po yon," Dela Cruz added.

[When he (Matt) was having seizure downstairs, I requested them if we could bring him to the hospital. They got angry, Bonez and Thugz, because they said it was not allowed.] — RSJ, GMA Integrated News