Fraternity, fraternity, how many boys have been murdered today?

Fraternities are not evil by themselves. Presidents Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in UP and Rodrigo Duterte in San Beda were fratmen. Even the late Ninoy Aquino was a fraternity brother of Marcos Sr. FM named many of his frat brods in the judiciary, and executive agencies. President Duterte appointed many of his fraternity brothers to some juicy positions. I used to be a fratman myself. But during our time, we did not kill our neophytes. We indoctrinated them, we brainwashed them, we put values, character and proper attitudes into their beings.

The records of Wikipedia tell us that, aside from John Matthew who died on February 18, this year, a student in a Davao university, Augustus Caesar Saplot also died of hazing on September 18, 2022. The frat killers were not stopped by Covid. Their lethal hazing claimed the life of a young kid. Eight fraternity members were arrested. Nothing has been heard since then. On July 6, 2021, Jonas Bondoc , a student of a merchant marine school in Zambales also died of hazing. On November 18, 2020, Joselito Envidiado from Zamboanga City was allegedly subjected to hazing by the same frat accused of killing Salilig, also from Zamboanga. Robert John Limpioso Fernandez, from Surigao City  died on August 9, 2020.No case update has been reported by the authorities. On February 16, 2020, Omar Despabiladeras of Bulan Sorsogon also died of hazing by the same frat of Salilig.

Darwin Dormitorio of Cagayan de Oro City died as a hazing victim in the PMA in Baguio City on September 18, 2019. Horacio Castillo III of a Manila based Catholic university, died on September 17, 2017. Anthony Javier of Zamboanga City died of hazing by the same frat of Salilig on September 30, 2015. Christian dela Cruz of Santa Maria, Bulacan also died of hazing on June 24, 2015. Ariel Inofre of Quezon died of hazing also on November 2, 2014 in the hands of the same frat as Salilig. This same frat was also blamed for the death of Guillo Servando on June 28, 2014 in a college run by religious brothers in Manila. Sometime in 2013, a student from Mariveles, Bataan died due to hazing too. Marc Andre Marcos, of a Manila-based school, died of hazing on July 30, 2012. And on February 9, 2012, Marvin Reglos, of the same school as Marcos, also died of hazing.

The same frat of Salilig was blamed for the death of Nor Silongan on September 15, 2011 in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat. Military hazing was supposedly the cause of death of Erik Apura in May 2011 in a Zambales maritime school. The same frat that figured in the Salilig death was also supposedly involved on October 27, 2010 when Noel Borja Jr. lost his life through hazing. In Makati, on August 15, 2010, AJ Karl Intia also died due to hazing. In Iloilo City, Menardo Clamucha Jr. died of the same cause on July 18, 2010. Daniel Lorenz Jacinto from a famous Manila-based engineering university died on August 15, 2010. Daisy Monique Dimaranan of Laguna died due to hazing on November 14, 2009. In Cavite, the same frat of Salilig was named in relation to the death of John Daniel Samparanda on October 22, 2009. Elvis Sinaluan of Alfonso, Cavite died of the same cause on October 12, 2009.

In Butuan, Agusan, John Vincent Bernat died of hazing on October 2, 2009. Josephus dela Rosa, my namesake, died of military hazing on January 24, 2009 in Capas, Tarlac. The same frat as Salilig's was also named in the death by hazing of Carl Anthony Gaudicos in 2009 in Davao City. The same frat was also reported in connection with the death of Chester Paulo Abracias on August 2, 2008 in Lucena City, Quezon. Cris Anthony Mendez of UP, Diliman, died of hazing on August 2, 2007. Salilig's frat was also implicated in the death by hazing of Ronald Sequena, of Palawan. It was also the same frat held in the death of Mark Rodriguez of Nueva Ecija on January 28, 2007. Still the same frat was named on August 16, 2006 in connection with the death of Dennis Africa in Muntinlupa.

For lack of time and space, I will continue with this inventory of killings in the name of brotherhood tomorrow. Suffice it to say that from 2006 to 2023 no less than 33 deaths were attributed to fraternity hazing. What is regrettable, and even reprehensible is the fact that some of these deaths due to hazing involved the government institutions like the PMA and UP. How can the government have a moral authority to hold private schools to account when the government's hands are also not without any blemish. Even a single mortality is one death too many.

These are young and promising Filipino students who could have helped build the nation and alleviate the social, economic and political cancers of Philippine society.  Sayang na sayang.