Hunt doctor present during Salilig hazing, NBI asked

Sen. Francis Tolentino has asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to mount a manhunt operation against a doctor who was reportedly present during the initiation rites that killed Adamson University chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig last month.

Tolentino made the request during a public hearing by his Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights on the fatal fraternity initiation rite of Salilig.

During the hearing, to len ti no disclosed that an affidavit submitted by Ralph Benjamin Tan, alias “Scottie,” stated that a certain doctor who was supposedly in attendance during Salilig’s welcoming rites had refused to aid the victim when he was already fighting for his life following severe injuries he suffered during his initiation rites.

“’Yung isang suspect nagsalita siya na mayroong isa silang kasamahan na may pinsang doctor na nandoon na – noong naghihingalo na halos si Matthew ay hiningian ng tulong subalit ‘yung doctor hindi tumulong,’’ Tolentino said.

Tan is one of the five suspects who voluntarily surrendered to the authorities following the discovery of Salilig’s decomposing body in Barangay Malagasang in Imus City, Cavite last February.

Tolentino stressed that the NBI should look into the doctor since the medical practitioner is criminally liable for refusing to perform his sworn duty under the doctor’s Hippocratic Oath.

“Sinabi ko sa NBI at kapulisan, try to identify the doctor who failed to render medical assistance kasi violation iyon sa kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin. Kapag na identify iyon, dapat kasuhan din iyon,” the senator s a i d .“M a b i b i g a t a n g k a s o noon. So kailangan lumabas ‘yun, kasi kung tumulong iyon baka buhay pa si Matthew,” he added.