MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas lauded Patrol 117 for being instrumental in the rescue of three De La Salle-College of St. Benilde students who were allegedly victims of a fraternity hazing incident in Manila.
Roxas said that with Patrol 117’s swift and decisive actions and coordination, a Manila Red Cross ambulance was immediately sent to the condominium building where the four alleged hazing victims, including one who died, were rescued and brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
Rescued were John Paul Raval, 18, of One Archers Place; Lorenze Agustin, 18, of Prime City towers in San Antonio Village, Makati; and a 17-year-old student whose name was withheld because he is a minor. The other victim, sophomore Guillo Cesar Servando, died even before he was sent to the hospital.
“Walang puwang ang karahasan sa ating lipunan lalo pa ang hazing kung saan ang biktima ay ang mga kabataan. Mabuti na lamang at mayroong emergency hotline 117 kaya agad na nasaklolohan at nadala sa ospital ang mga biktima ng insidenteng ito,” he said.
The DILG Secretary also commended the caller who reported the incident to Patrol 117, prompting the latter to relay the incident to Manila Red Cross which immediately sent an ambulance to the site.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa taong tumawag sa Patrol 117 ng DILG para ireport ang insidente. Muli na naman nating napatunayan ang kahalagahan ng partisipasyon ng mamamayan sa kampanya natin kontra krimen,” he said.
Based on police reports, the four students, all from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, were picked up at a condominium building in Manila by alleged members of Tau Gamma Phi fraternity last Saturday.
Four hours later, the four were brought back to One Archers Place along Taft Avenue in Malate, Manila by the fraternity members after undergoing initiation rites in an undisclosed place.
“Kung nahuli lang ng ilang oras ang dating ng ambulansya, malamang na binawian din ng buhay pati ang tatlo pang hazing victims dahil sa pinsalang tinamo nila sa pambubugbog,” Roxas said.
He advised the public to call emergency hotline 117 to provide any information that may lead to the arrest of those responsible for the hazing incident.
“Inaasahan ko na patuloy na tatangkilikin ng publiko ang Patrol 117 hindi lamang sa pagreport ng krimen kundi maging sa pagreport ng mga insidente sa sakuna, kalamidad o ordinaryong aksidente sa kalye,” said Roxas.
“Bawat buhay na maililigtas ay mahalaga. Kailangan ang tulong nating lahat para masigurong ligtas sa kapahamakan ang ating komunidad,” he said.
