At least 15 persons of interest were tagged in the brutal death of the 24-year-old chemical engineering student from Adamson University, the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Cavite police positively confirmed that the remains of John Matthew Salilig, which is already in the stage of decomposition, were found buried at a vacant lot in a subdivision in Malagasang, Imus City.
They were able to locate the victim's body after a witness gave the exact location.
In an interview, PNP-Laguna acting chief of police Lieutenant Colonel Virgilio Jopia said Salilig's body showed signs of hazing, citing the bruises found in his legs. However, authorities have yet to receive the result of his autopsy examination.
Cavite Police officer-in-charge (OIC) Michael Batoctoy, in another interview, revealed that the witness told the police that Salilig was beaten at least 70 times during the Tau Gamma Phi initiation rites.
Of the fifteen persons of interest, seven took part in the initiation rites, according to the witness.
In a statement, Adamson University said that it has conducted its own probe into the incident and has cooperated with the authorities on the matter.
Tau Gamma Phi, the Triskelions' Grand Fraternity of Imus City, condemned the killing of Salilig.
"Ito ay tahasang paglabag sa batas lalo na sa Republic Act No. 11053 o mas kilala bilang anti-hazing law, hindi makatao at labag ito sa aming paniniwala bilang kasapi ng Tau Gamma Phi," it said in a statement.
