Deeper probe up in death of frat neophyte

By Florence F. Hibionada

A directive from the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) is now in effect addressed to investigators of the Dueñas police aimed at establishing frasority personalities involved in Sunday’s hazing death.  Thus far, no suspects were named nor charges filed even as radio reports gathered witness accounts that disclosed of at least 50 ‘elders’ of the Kapatiran ng Kabataan sa Kriminolohiya or KKK present in the fatal hazing.

With city cops initially on the job, Senior Supt. Cornelio Defensor, IPPO Deputy Director for Operations called for an extensive probe of the incident amidst validated information that such occurred in said town.

This, as officials of the city’s Criminology schools with known KKK presence moved to conduct an independent check of the surrounding events and recruitment made by the group.

In an interview, Senior Supt. Defensor confirmed to The News Today (TNT) the Dueñas directive while assuring of immediate results anytime soon.  Said IPPO official has since ordered for continuous police monitoring of hazing activities in Iloilo towns.  In fact, surprise checks are made in various schools and campuses throughout the province in coordination with school officials concerned over school gang recruitments.

The latest victim was 19 year-old Dan Robert Talibutab of Barangay Lanag, Norte, Tubungan, Iloilo.  He was a second year Criminology student of the St. Therese College and was rushed by pals to the hospital moments after he collapsed in a boarding house in Lapaz District.

A check made with operatives of Police Precinct 2 in Lapaz confirmed the turn-over of the Talibutab case to provincial cops.  SPO1 Jessie Cabial said two investigators from the Dueñas Police Office came to coordinate probe efforts.

Among those being checked is the veracity of the information that point to the house of a town official as the venue of the tragic hazing in Dueñas..
TNT gathered from sources that KKK was pioneered by Criminology students of the University of Iloilo (UI).  With a special handshake that distinguishes the members, the frasority was at its peak in the 70s where among its elders now are known Ilonggo personalities including government officials and police officers.  No official comment was made by the KKK either to acknowledge the tragic incident or deny involvement. 

Cecil Ortiz, UI administrator clarified to TNT that said group is not recognized by the university.  Same position echoed by Allan Ladrido, UI Student Affairs Coordinator.

Ladrido said as far as UI is concerned, there are no legitimate KKK personalities within the university.  He acknowledged attempts by the group though to apply for recognition yet given the history of the frasority where violations were committed and provisions as stated in the student manual not heeded, it is highly impossible for the KKK now to be recognized.

Meanwhile, radio reports disclosed of an ongoing investigation in the St. Therese College, Department of Criminology.  The dean was quoted to have said that students confirmed to be part of the controversial frasority will be expelled amidst confirmation that the KKK is also not duly recognized by the College.  Had it not been for the death of one of its students, St. Therese administration would not have known of the KKK presence or recruitment in the Criminology department.