The Death of Emerson Berry, Jr. Source = Cebu Daily News

      
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Hazing death troubles Capiz family


Cebu Daily News
First Posted 13:06:00 03/10/2009

Filed Under: Crime, Schools, Police

Roxas City, Philippines — Three years after 21-year-old engineering student Jan Angelo Dollete died in a fraternity hazing in Sapian town, a student from Pilar municipality, in the first district of Capiz, died last week due to hazing.

Emerson Berry Sr. of Barangay (village) San Ramon, Pilar, is crying for justice for his son Emerson Jr., 16, who died on March 5, four days after he was taken to Malbog District Hospital in Balasan, Iloilo.

The older Berry at first thought that his son got ill due to a minor kidney complication. But he later discovered several contusions, more particularly on the buttocks, allegedly caused by the paddle used during the hazing rite.

He had sought the help of authorities to seek justice for his son.

Emerson Jr. was a fourth year high school student of the Casanayan National High School in Casanayan village in Pilar, Capiz.

Ronilo Tiu, the school principal, said he belatedly learned that Emerson Jr. was recruited by somebody to join the Beta Gamma Rho Fraternity last January. The hazing rites, according to Tiu's source, was conducted in a resort in Sitio (district) Nabitasan in Balasan town.

Tiu said he was not aware of fraternity activities in his school as he started working as principal only last month.

Inspector Nasser Canja, Pilar police chief, confirmed reports that a student from his town died due to hazing.

He said he was coordinating with the police chief of Balasan since the place where the alleged hazing took place was outside of his jurisdiction. Inquirer