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Rappler: A Complete List of Wrongs of Passage that led to fraternity deaths in the Philippines

Here is an extensive list of deaths compiled by Yoly Villaneuva-Ong that she calls “Wrongs of Passage” from the title of my book.

2014

Guillo Servando, 18, Benilde sophomore. He is believed to have died from severe beating in initiation rites of Tau Gamma fraternity. [Moderator: see his Facebook tribute page}

2013

John Mark Dugan, 19. A sophomore marine cadet in the Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific whose death was linked to hazing.

2012

Marc Andre Marcos, 20. A San Beda University law student, he was allegedly beaten to death by members of the Lex Leonum fraternity. The accused were cleared from charges in 2013.

Marvin Reglos, 25. He was a San Beda law student who was reportedly killed during hazing rites held by the Lambda Rho Beta in Antipolo City.

San Sebastian senior law students Erick Castillo and Bodjie Yap faced murder charges, along with Arjay Gregana, Jufali Abdula and 11 others.

2011

E.J. Karl Intia, 19, from the University of Makati who supposedly aspired to join the Alpha Phi Omega (APO). He suffered 4 hours of hazing in the house of Rico Mansalapus. Intia’s body was later found in a 30-meter deep ravine in Laguna.

Sixteen APO fratmen were charged. University of Makati students Reynald Marin, 19; Michael Pagulayan, 19; Roesel Wenceslao, 18; and alumnus Rico Mansalapus, 31, were ordered released for lack of probable cause by Makati Judge Honorio Guanlao even with the admission that they took part in the hazing.

Ronel de Guzman, 20, of Hagonoy, Bulacan was taken to an empty lot at a Tau Gamma Phi initiation. He did not survive the beating.

Marlon T. Mendoza and John Lawrence Borja y Coronel, 18, were charged.

Nor Silongan, 16, a Criminology student in Sultan Kudarat, was mauled to death in an isolated area at a Tau Gamma Phi initiation.

2010

Daniel Lorenz Jacinto, 19, from the Mapua Institute of Technology, Trece Martires, Cavite, died from severe bruises on his thighs and body allegedly from the Cavite Cardinals initiation.

Arrested were Emil John Villanueva, 19; Ronnie Mozo, 19; Glenn Angelo Mansilla, 20; John Arman Canicosa, 19; Paulo Alvarez, 22; and Marco Polo Sarlo, 21.

Noel Borja Jr., 15, an elementary student and neophyte was reportedly assaulted to death by members of Tau Gamma Phi. The brotherhood learned that Borja’s parents belonged to rival Alpha Kappa Rho fraternity.

2009

Glacy Monique Dimaranan, a 15-year-old girl who died of a single gunshot wound in the head during initiation rites. A member of the Scout Royal Brotherhood (highschool version of the APO) in Laguna accidentally pulled the trigger of the gun he was pointing at the victim.

John Daniel Samparanda, 18, a student of Lyceum, Cavite, suffered severe leg beatings inflicted at Tau Gamma Phi rites. He died in October 2009.

Charged were Bartolome, 21, and Joel Bandalan 18, a sophomore and freshman studying Hotel and Restaurant Management at Lyceum.

Elvin Sinaluan, 21, a Scout Royal Brotherhood recruit who died reportedly in brutal rites where initiates “were hit by paddle every 30 seconds for two hours,” said authorities.

Eight were arrested: Antonio Rosanes, Ricky Arga, Rommel Pega, Timothy Cruzada, Paul John Caldit, Jecel Alvares, Aaron Amparo, and Aloja Vidallon.

Karl Anthony Gaudicos, 18. An engineering student of the Holy Cross of Davao College who died in hazing activities under the Tau Gamma Phi and Tau Gamma Sigma.

2008

Chester Paulo Abracias, a Marine Technology sophomore at the Enverga University, Lucena City, was paddled to death during a Tau Gamma Phi initiation.

A member who surrendered and requested anonymity received death threats.

2007

Cris Anthony Mendez, 21, from the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, was declared dead on arrival at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center.

Dr. Francisco Cruz, who brought the Sigma Rho initiate, faced a civil case from the Mendez family. Fifteen fratmen were investigated. The case is pending at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Jan Angelo Dollete, 21. A 5th-year Engineering student from Capiz State University died during the final initiation of APO from severe contusions all over the body “inflicted by many.”

Christina Dyna Baldisimo, a high school teacher; Phel Raff Patricio, CSU student; Deneo Machado, manager of RCL Marketing; Dinkee Mandar, Dexter Alvarez, Ramir Bula and Archie Durana were charged.

2006

Clark Anson Silverio, a UP mechanical engineering student, was declared dead on arrival at the Manila Sanitarium Hospital after reported initiations by Tau Gamma Phi .

Marlon Villanueva, 21, an agriculture economics student from UP Los Baños, succumbed to injuries sustained at a suspected APO initiation in Pansol, Laguna.

Charged were Jericho Paril, 25, and Brandon Gonzales, 22, both APO members.

Dan Robert Talibutab, a criminology student from St. Therese College, Iloilo, was believed to be a hazing victim of the non-accredited school organization Kapatiran ng Kabataan sa Kriminolohiya.

2004

Mark Welson Chua, a UST student who exposed corruption among Reserve Officers’ Training Corps officials, was killed by a fellow student. Defendants during the trial claimed that Chua died in fraternity hazing rites.

2003

Emerson Berry Jr., 16, fourth year student from the Casanayan National High School, was beaten to death in initiation rites of the Beta Sigma Rho brotherhood in Pilar, Capiz.

2001

Rafael Root Albano III, an aspiring doctor, was believed to be killed by members of the Sigma Mu, a fraternity of medical doctors in FEU, Laguna.

Fernando Balidoy, 18, probationary midshipman, died as he was undergoing initiation conducted by upperclassmen of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy.

Monico de Guzman, a Philippine Military Academy (PMA) plebe whose death was attributed to illness by officials. His father, however, believes his son died from the notorious “beat attack” on entrants in boot camp.

Edward Domingo, 23. The Camiling, Tarlac native and PMA cadet reportedly died of cardio-respiratory attack due to injuries he suffered from hard blows to the lower part of the rib cage. Two cadets were convicted for homicide.

2000

Ace Bernabe Ekid, 21, was said to have died from stroke due to rigorous training exercises at the PMA. His family and friends, however, insisted Ace was a victim of hazing and foul play.

1998

Alexander Miguel Icasiano of UP Alpha Phi Beta

1995

Mark Roland Martin of Epsilon Chi

Here’s a tally of the most murderous Philippine fraternities and groups of the decade: Tau Gamma Phi: 8 hazing deaths; Alpha Phi Omega and Scout Royal Brotherhood: 5 deaths; and PMA: 3 dead plebes.

 

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024, the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division and Best Humorist, second place.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Warsaw, Poland and Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com and in his weekly column "Far from Randolph" in the Winchester Star-Gazette of Randolph County, Indiana.

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