44 teens rescued from initiation rites
MANGALDAN—Leaders of a fraternity group have been arrested and charged by the police following the rescue of 44 teenage recruits who were about to undergo initiation rites that would have included a “blood compact”.
More than 10 others who were also recruited and due for initiation by the group managed to flee when the responding police officers arrived.
Those rescued were mostly second and third year students at Mangaldan National High School.
Superintendent Policarpio Cayabyab, Mangaldan police chief, said the students were rescued Wednesday afternoon in a beach house in San Fabian town where they were supposed to drink wine, have a blood compact, and a ring pierced into their tongues as a sign of membership into the group called Al Dha Bhezt.
The police filed a case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or exploitation of minor at the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in Dagupan City against the group’s leaders, namely: Mark Leo Casil, 21, Demy Sabalboro, 22, and Roland Suarez, 18, while their two fellow leaders who are minors were turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for custody.
Cayabyab said one of the group’s top leaders had been previously reported to be involved in gang wars.
The rescued teenagers told the police they were forced by their leaders to donate P2 each daily to their fraternity group since last month.
Cayabyab said following a directive from Mayor Bona de Vera, they have intensified their campaign against fraternities in schools and are regularly monitoring computer shops to enforce a local ordinance banning students from these establishments during class hours.–Eva Visperas
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