Woman linked to Servando hazing flees

MANILA, Philippines - A woman linked to the death of hazing victim Guillo Cesar Servando has fled the country.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) panel conducting preliminary investigation on the case was informed yesterday that Alyssa Valbuena flew to an unknown destination last July 10, the day the lookout bulletin order was issued against the respondents.

Valbuena, daughter of former Manila councilor Erick Valbuena, is reportedly the girlfriend of one of the fraternity members present during the initiation on June 28.

Servando’s father Aurelio submitted records of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to the investigating panel chaired by Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano.

Other respondents who have fled the country are John Kevin Navoa, Esmerson Calupas, Hans Killian Tatlonghari and Eleazar Pablico III.

It was the fourth hearing held by the panel but the complaint has not yet been submitted for resolution.

The DOJ panel has set the clarificatory hearing of the case on Aug. 28 when fellow neophytes of Servando are required to attend.

The 20 respondents led by Cody Errol Morales, reported head of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity-De La Salle chapter, were charged with violation of Section 4 of Republic Act 8049, the Anti-Hazing Law.

It imposes the penalty of life imprisonment on people convicted of the death of a hazing victim.

Other respondents are Daniel Paul Bautista, Jemar Pajarito, John Paul Almazan, John Paul Arevalo, Hans Killian, Vic Angelo Dy, Mark Andrew Ramos, Mike Castañeda, Justin Francis Reyes, Carl Francis Loresca and Steven Jorge Peñano, an alias Kiko and an alias Bea and another unidentified suspect.

Almazan, Pajarito, Arevalo, Loresca, Peñano and Dayanghirang attended the hearings last July 31 and Aug. 7 and  14.

The arrest of the respondents is not expected until the Department of Justice (DOJ) finds probable cause and files the case in court.

The court will then issue the arrest warrants against them.