The death of Jan Angelo Dollete

      

7 charged in hazing case as cop turns state witness

By Felipe V. Celino
Visayas Bureau
First Posted 17:12:00 07/13/2007

Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice,Crime

ROXAS CITY -- One year after an engineering student died in fraternity initiation rites, the Capiz Provincial Prosecutor's Office has recommended the filing of homicide charges against seven persons linked to the incident. But a policeman present in the fatal hazing escaped being charged criminally by turning state witness.

Assistant provincial prosecutor Romulo Gotico, in a resolution released Friday, also recommended the filing of charges against the seven for violation of Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Act for the death of Jan Angelo Dollete during the initiation rites on May 6, 2006 held by the Alpha Phi Omega (Apo) Fraternity.

Dollete, a resident of Milibili, Roxas City, and some of those accused in his death had studied at the Capiz State University.

Gotico said he found probable cause for homicide and violation of anti-hazing law against seven of the 13 persons charged by police.

The seven were identified as Christina Dyna Baldisimo, a teacher at the national high school in Sapian, Capiz; Phel Raff Patricio of President Roxas town and a student at CSU; Dinkee Mandar of Punta Tabuc, Roxas City; Dexter Alvarez of Loctugan, Roxas City; Ramir Bula also of Loctugan; Deneo Machado, a resident of Roxas City and manager of RCL Marketing here; and Archie Durana of Salgan, Maayon, Capiz.

The prosecutor cleared six other persons initially charged by Task Force Dollete. They were Sylvester Bellosillo, Joel Bellosillo, Christina Paula Fabros, Archie Denolo, Carlette Caldeo-Pretta, and Jesus Stephen Honrado alias Steve Honrado.

Police Officer 2 Teodorico Lacson, a member of the APO fraternity and the Mambusao police present in the hazing, was initially implicated in the case but charges against him were dropped when he decided to turn state witness, said Senior Police Officer 2 Emmanuel Ochavo, head of Task Force Dollete.

Gotico said there was no doubt that a final initiation ceremony was held at the hilltop of Sitio (sub-village) Busay, Poblacion Sapian, Capiz on the evening of May 6, 2006.

The prosecutor added that the death of pledgee Dollete due to severe contusions all over the body could not have been inflicted by one man alone but by many.

The prosecution's main witness, Lacson, identified the seven respondents as having participated in the hazing.