19-Year-Old Maritime Student Dies in Fraternity Hazing — Remulla to Tau Gamma Phi: 'This Will Not Go Unpunished'
A 19-year-old first-year maritime student is dead after a brutal fraternity hazing in Cavite, and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is furious. Mark Kenneth Alcedo died of blunt force trauma from severe beating during what was supposed to be an initiation rite by the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity on March 1. Now 21 people are being eyed as suspects, and Remulla has made it clear: nobody walks away from this.
"This is unacceptable," Remulla said in a media briefing Friday. "We expect Tau Gamma Phi, a 1-million-strong organization, to cooperate fully in locating and turning over their members. This will not go unpunished. We will pursue all of them." He also challenged the fraternity's senior leadership to do more than issue manifestos against violence — actual accountability ang kailangan, hindi statements lang.
This is the second hazing-related death in Remulla's home province involving Tau Gamma Phi in just four years, making the tragedy even more personal for the DILG chief. Authorities initially identified 17 suspects, but the number has since grown to 21 as the investigation continues. One suspect has already surrendered.
Tau Gamma Phi spokesman Martin Asturias said the fraternity has condemned the hazing and pledged full cooperation. "Secretary Remulla asked us for our commitment. We gave them the commitment that we will assist them in all angles of the investigation," Asturias told reporters, urging implicated members to surrender at the nearest police station. The fraternity, which was founded 57 years ago, also expressed condolences to Alcedo's family.
All suspects face charges under Republic Act 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, which carries penalties up to reclusion perpetua if hazing results in death. Despite the law being in place for eight years now, hazing deaths in Philippine universities and maritime schools continue to make headlines — proof na hindi pa rin natututo ang iba.
Source: The Manila Times
