DAVAO CITY: The management of the University of Mindanao (UM) announced in a statement on Monday, September 26, the suspension of four out of 14 students implicated in a recent hazing incident which resulted in the death of a graduating criminology student.
According to a police report, the remains of the victim, identified as August Ceazar Saplot, were found at Purok Santo Niño, Sison Village, Upper Mandug, Buhangin District. Saplot was a pledgee of the Alpha Kappa Rho Fraternity, Alpha Delta Chapter.
Another pledgee was seriously injured and is now confined in a hospital. The UM management said that out of the 14 students tagged as perpetrators, two had already graduated from the College of Criminology. Of the remaining 12, the statement said, nine were arrested and three are still at large and whose enrollment status has yet to be verified.
“Of the nine, only four are actually enrolled at present, coming from the criminology, accounting, nursing, and hospitality management programs,” the statement read.
The remaining five students have either dropped out of the university or transferred to other schools, according to the statement. The statement claimed that because of this incident, the name of the university has been dragged, disrespected, and derided, although the hazing activity took place outside the school premises and without sanction from the university.
“It is in this line that the University President has caused the suspension of the four students who are enrolled and present to disabuse any hint of leniency or prevent them from coming to school while the disciplinary investigation is going on,” the statement added.
The university also promised to give its full support to the ongoing investigation.
The UM management likewise called on the public, especially the parents and the studentry, to help curb the practice of hazing in clubs, fraternities, sororities, and even in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
“Student safety is a 2-lane avenue, not a 1-way street. While UM does not condone such barbarism that offends decency and reason, the school can only do so much,” the statement said.
The arrested suspects are facing criminal charges for violating Republic Act 8049 or the “Anti-Hazing Law.”
Davao City Police Office chief Col. Alberto Lupaz, in a recent press conference, said the police will continue to hunt the other fraternity members involved in the death of Saplot.