Makati court junks hazing raps vs 4 APO frat men

A Makati court on Friday dismissed hazing charges against four fraternity members allegedly involved in the death of University of Makati student EJ Karl Intia. Judge Honorio Guanlao of the Regional Trial Court Branch 57 issued the ruling after finding a lack of probable cause to charge the suspects, who earlier surrendered to authorities and claimed to be members of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity. Assistant prosecutor Lody Tancioco, who earlier recommended the filing of charges against the four for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law, said they will file a motion for reconsideration next week. In the meantime, the court has ordered the release of the four suspects — John Reynald Marin, Roesel Wesceslao, Michael Pagulayan, and Rico Mansalapus. Intia, 19, reportedly died during initiation rites of the Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity in August. His body was found dumped into a ravine in Laguna province south of Metro Manila on August 15. While his body sustained serious bruises on his legs — a common sign of a fraternity neophyte being "paddled" — an autopsy showed that the victim died from traumatic injury on the head. Last week, Guanlao required the prosecution to submit additional evidence against the accused, after police presented as sole evidence only an affidavit of the police personnel who facilitated the four suspects' surrender, according to earlier reports. The Prosecutor's Office filed charges against 15 suspects in the crime. Apart from the four suspects earlier arrested, 11 are still at large.—Mark D. Merueñas/JV, GMANews.TV