John Matthew Salilig hazing victim

 Zamboanga City mourned the loss of John Matthew Salilig, a victim of hazing, on Saturday, March 4, as he was laid to rest in a cemetery alongside his grandfather, Romulo Salilig. The requiem mass for John Matthew and his grandfather was held at the Metropolitan Immaculate Conception Cathedral, attended by family members and hundreds of sympathizers donning black shirts, some with John Matthew's image and the call for justice emblazoned on them.

During the eulogy, John Matthew's father, Jeofrey Salilig, expressed his desire for justice to be served for his son. John Martin, John Matthew's brother, also echoed this sentiment, describing his brother as smart, ambitious, and jolly. John Martin promised to fulfill his brother's last request by placing a new pair of shoes inside his brother's coffin.

The funeral organizers ensured that no garments related to the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, in which John Matthew was a member, were worn to prevent any untoward incidents during the mass and burial.

After the funeral rites, mourners accompanied the family to the cemetery, where John Matthew and his grandfather were interred. Romulo had passed away on February 22 from an illness, and in hindsight, it was believed that his favorite grandson, John Matthew, might have passed away before him.

John Matthew was reported missing on February 18, the same day he underwent hazing rites by the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in Cavite City. He later succumbed to injuries related to hazing. The tragic incident has sparked renewed calls for the eradication of hazing in fraternities and other organizations, and for justice to be served for John Matthew and his family.