Tau Gamma Phi Chapters, Members Condemn Adamson Hazing Incident

Almost 150 chapters of the Tau Gamma Phi have condemned the hazing incident that allegedly led to the death of third year Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig.

“There are no words strong enough to express our disgust and condemnation at the senseless acts that led to the untimely death of Triskelion John Matthew ‘Matt’ Salilig,” Grand Triskelion Jewellord Peralta of the Tau Gamma Phi Global said in a statement on March 1.

He offered prayers for “peace and comfort” for the family of Salilig, who was a member of a local Tau Gamma Phi chapter in Zamboanga City.

“Brod Matt’s demise is a great loss to the Tau Gamma Phi as well, but beyond our collective grief, we can best honor his life by dedicating ourselves to ensuring that this tragedy never happens again,” the statement added.

“Toward that end, we reiterate our commitment to non-violence and the observance of the law, most specifically, the Anti-Hazing Law of 2018; and we vow to persevere in our efforts to reform the fraternity and re-educate Triskelions under the banner of ‘Tungo sa Ganap na Pagbabago,’” it said. 

Described as an “umbrella organization” of different chapters around the world, Tau Gamma Phi Global said its goal is to unify the fraternity under one leadership and enforce compliance of the its tenets and codes of conduct.

The statement was supported by almost 150 university-, community- and international-based chapters of Tau Gamma Phi.

In a separate statement, Tau Gamma Phi’s national – which is said to be the “final authority” in the fraternity’s affairs – also offered their condolences to Salilig’s family and vowed that those who will be found responsible “will be dealt with accordingly.”

“The Tau Gamma Phi renounces any form of violence and brutality as one of the guiding precepts of our actions. Let us be reminded that we are a fraternity of God-fearing men who believe in ‘the power of reason and not the force of reason,’” read the statement dated March 1.

“We join the Triskelion community worldwide in mourning over this heartbreaking event and enjoin everyone to pause for a while and offer prayers to comfort the bereaved family of our Bro. Matt as well as enlightenment over our fraternity. Let the wheels of justice take its due course. May all Triskelions strictly adhere to the laws of the land as responsible members of the community and as a fraternity in particular,” it added.

The fraternity’s Imus chapter was among the first to condemn the death of Salilig, whose remains were found buried at a vacant lot in the city on Feb. 28.

Salilig, a member of a local chapter of Tau Gamma Phi in Zamboanga City, was reported missing after attending the supposed welcoming rites of the fraternity’s Adamson chapter in Biñan, Laguna on Feb. 18. 

His remains were discovered after one of those involved reached out to the police.

“This is a blatant violation of laws, especially Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing law. This is inhumane and against our beliefs as members of Tau Gamma Phi,” read the statement written in Filipino and signed by Imus chapter officials.

“We are one with the family of the victim and the entire Tau Gamma Phi in calling for justice so that it will not happen again,” it added.

One of the founders of the fraternity’s Adamson chapter also “stepped down” from his role to express sympathies to Salilig’s family.

“It is embarrassing to be called a founder of Adamson U chapter after the crime that happened,” Abdul Wahhab Salvatierra said in a Facebook post in Filipino.

Concerned alumni said those involved in the hazing incident have already been suspended indefinitely and would be expelled from the fraternity if proven guilty. 

‘Nothing less than a crime’ 

In an interview with One PH’s “The Big Story” on Thursday, Mar. 2, former University of the Philippines (UP) Triskelions Alumni Inc. president Louie Aseoche described Salilig’s death as “doubly revolting” and “unjustifiable” as it happened during a supposed welcoming rite of a member.

“We (Tau Gamma Phi) condemn it. Looking at that video there's no other way of looking at it, but that it is a crime. A murder. And that it was perpetrated by the members of the very fraternity he wished to join, and which you are supposedly a member of because this is just a simple welcome ritual... makes it doubly revolting. It is unjustifiable,” Aseoche said.

Founded in UP Diliman in 1954, the Tau Gamma Phi was initially known as the “Order of the U.P. Triskelions” before it adopted its current name. It has since expanded to different universities and communities.

Amid concerns over hazing incidents, Aseoche said the fraternity’s founding chapter has been promoting a “no contact” policy even before the first anti-hazing law was passed in 1995. 

“In UP, we have done something about it (hazing) and we are trying to put in place an advocacy that will cascade to all our chapters. We have been conducting training, conventions and seminars about the ‘no contact’ policy. We have started this in 2015 in earnest, only to be deferred because of the pandemic,” Aseoche said. 

While there have efforts to unify the fraternity, such as through the establishment of Tau Gamma Phi Global, Aseoche admitted difficulties implementing policies due to the autonomous nature of many chapters.

“It’s hard to control Tau Gamma Phi’s chapters because they have their own operations. The fraternity lacks a central structure,” he said in Filipino during in a separate interview with “One Balita Pilipinas” on Friday, Mar. 3. 

“Incidents like these should be a wake-up call for other chapters, councils, that it is high time to fix the brotherhood’s structure and follow the no contact policy. Everyone should do this because hazing incidents keep on happening. It’s already getting repetitive and upsetting,”  he added. 

Despite having laws making it a crime, Aseoche said hazing is difficult to eradicate as it is already embedded in fraternity culture in the country.

He said Tau Gamma Phi’s founding chapter has reached out to the family of Salilig to provide help.

He assured full cooperation from the fraternity in bringing justice and ensuring cooperation with authorities from the perpetrators. 

“This is part of what the other chapters and councils have done. Apart from conveying their sympathies and condolences with the grieving family of Brod John Matthew, they have extended their help and have already committed to making those involved accountable so we are fully cooperating and these members involved would be cooperating with authorities... We in the Tau Gamma Phi, we do not give refuge to members who violate the law,” he said.