Death of John Matthew Salilig

John Matthew Torres Salilig was a 24-year-old third-year chemical engineering student at Adamson University, originally from Zamboanga City, where he had seven siblings, two of whom were also members of Tau Gamma Phi. On February 18, 2023, Salilig attended fraternity initiation rites conducted by Tau Gamma Phi in an apartment in Biñan, Laguna. CCTV footage obtained by police showed Salilig and fraternity members traveling by bus to Biñan that morning, and later showed a vehicle used to transport him, followed by a motorcycle carrying a paddle allegedly used in the beatings.

During the initiation, which took place between approximately 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Salilig and two other neophytes suffered 70 blows to their bodies. Fraternity officers reportedly poured candle wax on the neophytes and whipped them with a belt. Salilig experienced stomach pain, soiled himself, turned pale, and vomited. The group then drove toward a house in Parañaque; accounts differ on whether Salilig lost consciousness before arrival or died en route in an SUV between Biñan and Manila. Rather than seeking hospital treatment, members of the group buried his body in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite.

Salilig's disappearance prompted his brother, John Martin, to travel from Zamboanga to Manila to search for him. On February 28, 2023, police discovered Salilig's decomposed body in the shallow grave, with his brother present at the scene. An autopsy determined that Salilig died from severe blunt force trauma to the lower extremities.

Police identified at least 18 persons of interest, with 14 alleged to have delivered blows to Salilig. On March 1, six suspects were arrested: Earl Anthony Romero, Tung Cheng Cheng, Jerome Balot, Sandro Victorino, Michael Lambert Ritalde, and Mark Pedrosa. A seventh suspect, Daniel de los Reyes Perry, described as the alleged master initiator, was arrested on March 2. All seven faced charges under Republic Act No. 11053, the Anti-Hazing Act. Ten other persons of interest remained at large. A father of one suspect was briefly arrested for obstruction of justice before being released. Another neophyte who underwent the initiation with Salilig turned himself in to police and identified six suspects.

On March 9, the National Bureau of Investigation released Tau Gamma Phi group chat messages detailing the fraternity's preparations for the initiation and members' reactions after Salilig fell ill and later died. The Department of Justice indicted the seven arrested suspects on March 15, and on April 12 all pleaded not guilty to hazing charges.

The case drew public reaction, including expressions of sympathy from Adamson University students and a reward offer from House Speaker Martin Romualdez. President Bongbong Marcos also expressed sympathy, stating that justice would be served. The incident was cited by student and labor groups opposing a proposed mandatory ROTC program.