Grade 11 student dies in hazing ritual in Nueva Ecija

PAMPANGA, Philippines – An 18-year-old student died in an alleged hazing ritual in San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija, on Sunday, September 29, according to a police report.

The victim, Ren Joseph Bayan, was a Grade 11 student at San Pablo National High School and a resident of Jaen town. He was reportedly killed after being beaten by members of the Tau-Gamma Phi fraternity.

The police report indicated that the incident occurred at around 5 pm on Sunday in Barangay San Anton. Authorities are investigating the case under the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

Ren’s aunt, Jennifer Bayan, reported the incident to the Jaen Police Station at around 10:20 pm. She said her nephew had informed her he would be undergoing final hazing rites.

Jennifer revealed that she tried to dissuade his nephew from joining the fraternity and last spoke with him at around 7 pm that evening.

She said that Ren suffered severe bruising on his thigh, along with internal bleeding and complications in his kidney and heart, which ultimately led to his death.

“Huling kausap ko siya ng 7 ng gabi. Ang sinabi niya sa akin na hindi malinaw na matutuloy sila. ’Yung isa nilang kasama nagkaroon ng problema kaya wala akong idea na natuloy sila,” Jennifer said in an interview posted by the Nueva Ecija Chronicle.

(I last spoke with him at around 7 in the evening. He said he wasn’t sure if they would push through because one of his companions had a problem, so I have no idea that they eventually go there.)

“Sa akin po nagpaalam ’yung bata. Nabanggit po niya sa akin na siya po ay desididong sumali sa fraternity na Tau Gamma. Lahat po ng pangaral ibinigay ko, lahat ng pagpigil ginawa ko sa bata. Lahat ng masasakit na salita sinabi ko para tumanim sa kanya na hindi kailangang sumali sa ganyan,” Jennifer said. “Sumama pa rin po pala siya sa hazing.”

(He told me about it. He mentioned to me that he had decided to join the Tau Gamma fraternity. I strongly advised him against it. I tried my best to stop him. I used hurtful words so he would realize that there is no need to participate in that. I didn’t know he still submitted himself to hazing.)

Renato Bayan, the victim’s father, said in the same interview that those who brought his son’s body should explain what happened, as they are considered the prime suspects in the case.

“’Yung mga nagdala ng bangkay ng anak ko eh makipag-usap sila kasi sila na ang primary suspect eh. Ang gusto ko po, makipag-usap sila kung ano’ng totoong nangyari sa anak ko. Kasi awang-awa ako sa anak ko, parang baboy eh. Walang karapatan pantao ’yung nangyari sa anak ko,” Renato said.

(Those who brought my son’s body, they should speak because they are the primary suspects. What I want is for them to talk about what really happened to my son. Because I feel sorry for my son, they treated him like a pig. There was no regard at all to his human rights.)

The police report cited witnesses’ accounts that the suspects brought Ren’s lifeless body back to their neighborhood before fleeing the scene. The body has since been taken to Malgapo Funeral Services.

The Jaen Municipal Police Station has requested assistance from the Nueva Ecija Provincial Forensic Unit to conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of the victim’s death.

Rappler reached out to case investigator Corporal Johndle Peralta. We will update this story once we receive his response. 

On Tuesday, October 1, a Manila court resolved a seven-year-old hazing case, sentencing 10 members of the Aegis Juris to reclusion perpetua for the hazing death of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III. (READ: ‘Check your rules,’ Atio Castillo’s mom tells UST after frat members’ conviction) – Rappler.com