Fratman goes provisional state witness for hazing incident

MANILA - A member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity has been granted provisional coverage under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) in exchange for information on the hazing incident last month that killed student Guillo Servando and injured three others.

The unidentified fratman surrendered to Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Tuesday night.

De Lima said the Tau Gamma member denied he was one of those who mauled Servando, a sophomore student of De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, to death on June 28.

She added that another member is willing to shed light on the incident to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Alamin nila (NBI) who exactly is this and alamin ano ang kanyang naging role sa initiation (rites) bago nila kausapin. And kahit nga hindi siya maging state witness, kung willing naman talagang magbigay ng statement then the NBI can consider him,” de Lima said. The justice chief also said that a lookout bulletin order will be issued against all persons allegedly involved in the incident once she gets a complete list of names from the NBI.

A person under the LBO is not barred from leaving the country but his travel details will have to be reported to concerned authorities.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed that John Kevin Navoa, one of the suspects in Servando’s death, is already outside the Philippines.

“He was cleared for departure as there is no legal basis to prevent his travel,” said Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

Further details of Navoa’s travel are still being verified by the BI along with the records of the other reported suspects.