A surrendered member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity revealed the ordeal that slain Adamson University chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig suffered at the hands of his “brotherhood.” His companions even planned to burn or throw the victim’s body in the river.
In a report by John Consulta on GMA News “24 Oras” this Wednesday, the suspect, a member of the Adamson University chapter of the fraternity, admitted that he was with what should have been “welcoming” rites for third-year student Salilig, who ended in tragedy.
Since Salilig is said to be a member of such a fraternity in Zamboanga, where he comes from, he is expected not to participate in the initiation. Only welcoming rites should be done to him in a house in Biñan, Laguna.
But the suspect explained, “‘Pag Adamson kasi kapag welcome, back to zero. Kasi ako rin po galing lang akong community, winelcome lang din ako. Repeat the process lang dun. Ang nawawala lang is yung mga rituals, paddle lang.”
Authorities said that based on the statement of the witnesses, Salilig received about 70 strokes of the paddle. It is said that 18 people attended this activity.
According to the police, Salilig vomited and passed out due to the difficulty. Although the difficult process was overcome, it was while in the car and on the way back to Manila that Salilig allegedly had a seizure and lost his life.
Frat member apologizes to John Matthew Salilig
It is said that the fellow members of the frat tried to revive Salilig, but they failed.
“Noong wala na talaga, sabi ‘tol ‘pag lumabas ‘yan puputok tayo’. Sabi itago na lang. I-dispose na lang. Sabi nung isa dalhin sa ospital, sabi, ‘tol hindi na negat na nga eh’. Meron ‘yung itatapon sa ilog, sa dagat, ililibing o iiwan lang,” the frat member said.
“Maraming fingerprints ang brod na nakahawak don kasi ‘di siya nagpunas, ‘di siya naligo after no’n. Nagpalit lang siya ng damit. Gusto sana sunugin pero ‘di na ginawa,” he added.
“Pasensya uli kung late na akong lumutang. Sorry talaga,” the suspect said.
After Salilig was reported missing for several days, his body was found in a shallow pit in Imus, Cavite.
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