Criminal raps readied in sorority hazing

MANILA, Philippines – Drop out or die.

This was the warning allegedly given by members of the Tau Gamma Sigma Sorority to a tourism student who no longer wanted to join the group.

The student, Larissa Colleen Alilio, 18, landed in a hospital after being beaten in hazing rights by her schoolmates at an abandoned house in Las Piñas last Sunday.

Criminal charges are set to be filed against at least 15 members of the sorority for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law and for serious illegal detention.

Alilio, daughter of Mayor Eulalio Alilio of Lemery, Batangas, is recuperating at the Makati Medical Center, although her internal organs are still being monitored for injuries, according to her mother Cherry.

Chief Superintendent Tomas Apolinario of the Southern Police District earlier identified some of those involved in the hazing by their aliases – sorority “lady master” Anna, Brandy, Yonara and Yuna.

Alilio is a tourism major at the Lyceum of the Philippines in Manila, where officials said they do not recognize any sorority or fraternity.

Cherry Alilio told dzMM yesterday that the sorority had been trying to recruit her daughter since December. When classes resumed on Jan. 3, the suspects brought her to one of the toilets in Lyceum and was warned against refusing to join the group.

“She was asked to either drop out or die. She got scared,” the mother said.

When the group invited the victim to the house in Barangay Pamplona Tres in Las Piñas, Larissa went. There about 30 sorority members blindfolded her, ordered her to kneel down and then took turns beating her back and thighs with a belt and stick, pulling her hair and slapping her. Melted candle wax was also poured down her back.

Cherry said that when Larissa collapsed, “my daughter overheard them saying she would be placed in a sack in case she died.”

Police said several men were also present during the hazing.