House bill seeks to ban all form of forms of hazing

All forms of hazing will be prohibited during the course of initiation rites or practice of a fraternity, sorority or organization.

This, when the substitute bill for the proposed revised Anti-Hazing Law is enacted into law.

During the House justice subcommittee on prosecutorial reforms hearing on Tuesday, Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy stressed that the existing Anti-Hazing Law only regulates hazing activities.

"In the RA 8049, we were regulating hazing as opposed to this, we are completely prohibiting any forms of hazing," said Herrera-Dy, author of the said measure.

The House panel is conducting a hearing to consider the substitute bill, which will repeal the Anti-Hazing Law.

Herrera-Dy, however, pointed out that the panel has already been putting into consideration the said proposal even before the death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo III allegedly due to fraternity hazing.

"This highlights that the House of Representatives is really doing its job and notes the importance of amending the existing law to avoid what happened just last week," she said.

Under the proposed substitute measure, only initiation rites that do not inflict direct or direct physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury to the neophyte will be allowed.

This, only if it complies with several requirements including a written application for the conduct of the rites to proper authorities, assurance that it would not go more than three days, among others.

School-based fraternities, sororities and other organizations will likewise be required to register with proper school authorities before they conduct activities. They will also be assigned with a faculty adviser to monitor their activities.

Aside from this, all new community-based organizations will also be required to register with their respective local government units.

The bill also lists down the "impermissible" defenses, where it is not defense to a charge of hazing that:

• The consent of the victim had been obtained,
• The conduct of the activity was not part of an official organizational event or was not otherwise sanctioned or approved by the organization, or
• The conduct or activity was not done as a condition of membership to an organization

During the hearing, Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva suggested that school officials be held accountable for hazing incidents whether they know it or not.

"To prevent hazing, much can be done if the school authorities are actually very strict in implementing the law. And to my mind, perhaps it can be considered to really make them accountable and responsible and the prevent these kinds of death," he said.

"To my mind, it can be legislated, whether or not there is knowledge, so long as there is death or serious physical injuries, they should be held accountable. It may enjoin the school heads to make sure these activities are regulated. Otherwise they will not do anything and keep pleading innocence," he added.

The House panel said it will take note of Villanueva's suggestion for consideration in the final version of the substitute bill.

Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo has already filed a resolution seeking investigation into the death of Castillo, with the goal to also amend the defects of the Anti-Hazing Law.

Castillo died of massive heart attack possibly due to the injuries he suffered after alleged hazing rites.

The Senate, meanwhile, has already began its investigation into the matter. — RSJ, GMA News