Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Friday called on the leadership of Tau Gamma Phi to help authorities locate and surrender the fraternity members implicated in the hazing death of a 19-year-old neophyte in Cavite, saying the organization must stop the blame game and take responsibility.

“We expect the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity to cooperate with us fully in finding and apprehending their members. They are a one million-strong organization. One way or another, they should be able to find their own and turn them over to us,” Remulla said.

“We cannot play that blame game forever. Someone has to take accountability. This will not go unpunished,” he emphasized.

The victim, 19-year-old Mark Kenneth Alcedo, was brought to the General Trias Medical Hospital on March 1 by three individuals who initially claimed he was a hit-and-run victim. Authorities later discovered that Alcedo had sustained blunt force trauma to his lower extremities and was declared dead on arrival.

The DILG chief identified 17 individuals, aged 18 to 19, as suspects in the case for violating Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Law, which penalizes those involved in the conduct of hazing.

Remulla urged the suspects to surrender voluntarily rather than wait for police operations to catch up with them, noting that lookout bulletins have already been issued and warrants of arrest are expected soon.

“Bata pa kayo. Kung makipagcooperate kayo, baka maayos pa natin ito,” he said.

Remulla also met with representatives of Tau Gamma Phi following the incident, the second hazing-related death recorded in Cavite in the past four years. The fraternity assured authorities of their cooperation, citing their manifesto renouncing violence.

However, Remulla clarified that such a manifesto does not shield the organization’s leadership from accountability. “Their manifesto renouncing violence does not protect the leadership of the Tau Gamma Phi. It does not insulate them from charges,” he said.

He also urged the fraternity to take a more active role in ending violent initiation practices.

“We strongly urge the Tau Gamma Phi to reform their culture of violence during initiations,” Remulla said.

Meanwhile, Tau Gamma Phi spokesperson Martin Asturias echoed the call for the voluntary surrender of the suspects, saying that members proven guilty in the criminal conspiracy leading to Alcedo’s death will face expulsion from the fraternity.