MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday filed obstruction of justice charges against a Muntinlupa City village official and three security guards for allegedly refusing to cooperate in the investigation of the death of suspected hazing victim Cris Anthony Mendez.

Charged before the Muntinlupa City Prosecutor’s Office were Manny Samson, manager of the Pacific Malayan Village in Cupang, Muntinlupa City and security guards Ricardo Cordova, Ruel Arandilla and Cezar Porcadilla.

Lawyer Romulo Asis, chief of the NBI Anti-Terrorism Division, said they filed the case after the four refused to let them serve subpoenas to Jose Andoni Santos, a University of the Philippines student who is said to be a member of the Sigma Rho fraternity. The NBI is investigating several Sigma Rho members, including Santos, for their possible involvement in hazing rites which could have led to the death of Mendez, a fraternity neophyte, on Aug. 27.

Based on information received by the NBI, Santos is a resident of the Pacific Malayan Village.

An NBI team tried three times to serve him with subpoenas but the security guards, apparently upon Samson’s orders, repeatedly prevented the agents from entering the village.

The guards also refused to receive the subpoenas on Santos’ behalf. At one time, the guards even told the NBI team that Santos and his family had already left for Spain.