GENERAL TRIAS, Cavite — A 19-year-old maritime student died after allegedly undergoing fraternity initiation rites in Cavite on Sunday, March 1, prompting police to launch a full investigation into what authorities suspect to be a hazing-related incident.

According to the Police Regional Office 4A, three unidentified men brought the unconscious victim to the General Trias Medical Hospital in Barangay Manggahan at around 2:11 p.m. using a Mitsubishi Mirage. Two of the men alighted to ask hospital staff for help, while the driver remained inside the vehicle. The suspects later abandoned the car, which was later recovered in Barangay Panungyanan and subjected to forensic examination.

Doctors attempted to revive the victim but declared him dead past 3 p.m. Medical staff noted multiple wounds and bruises on different parts of his body, contradicting the suspects’ claim that he had been involved in a vehicular accident.

Scene of the Crime Operatives have begun backtracking CCTV footage to trace the suspects’ movements and identify those involved. Authorities confirmed that the registered owner of the vehicle has been located, and investigators are pursuing three persons of interest.

The incident has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of the Anti-Hazing Law, with police vowing to hold accountable those responsible for the student’s death. The case adds to a growing list of hazing-related fatalities in the country, underscoring persistent concerns over fraternity practices and student safety.