Makati student killed in hazing

A student of the University of Makati (UMak) died during the initiation rites of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity, the city police said on Thursday, quoting sketchy reports. Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio, Makati City police director, said they could not immediately disclose all the details about the incident because information has been "arriving to us in trickles." Bonifacio was quoted in a radio dzBB report as saying they have received reports and text messages about it from several sources. The police initially identified the victim as a certain "Karl," either 19 or 20 years old, a vocational student at the UMak College of Technology Management. "Confirmed na patay although wala pang katawan na nakikita (He is confirmed dead although the body has not yet been seen).... There is no reason to doubt the information coming in," Bonifacio said. Reports reaching Bonifacio said about 15 t o 20 students were allegedly involved in the initiation rites. Bonifacio said he already dispatched investigators to look into the reports, as he inhibited himself from the case, being an APO alumnus himself. "Wala kaming kikilingan dito (We will not be partial to anyone in this case)," Bonifacio said, allaying doubts that his affiliation with the fraternity would affect the investigation. Bonifacio made the announcement about the death of the student during a press conference at the Makati City Hall on Thursday, which was attended by Makati Mayor Jejomar "Jun-jun" Binay Jr. Binay said that his father, Vice-President Jejomar Binay, also an APO alumnus, has condemned the hazing incident. APO national president Mel Adriano was present during the press conference but could not be immediately interviewed to comment on the matter. –VVP, GMANews.TV