Senators hope for an end to hazing deaths with new law

Several senators expressed hope Wednesday that the death of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III would be the last with the signing of the law that provides harsher penalty on the practice of hazing.

Castillo was a law student at the University of Sto. Tomas when he died while undergoing hazing in September 2017.

"Atio Castillo sought to join a brotherhood in search for his purpose in life. Since there’s no more life to speak of, let his death serve the purpose of ensuring that the misery of hazing and the employment of appalling rituals will no longer be imposed in the name of brotherhood," said Senator Panfilo Lacson, principal sponsor of the measure.

Lacson said hazing has to be stopped and awareness must be raised as there is no unity, no brotherhood, no strength, no honor, no dignity, and no respect in hazing.

"Hazing is merely violence and abuse,” Lacson reiterated.

The more severe punishments stemmed from hearings of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs which is chaired by Lacson.

The committee found that Castillo died while undergoing hazing rites of the Aegis Juris fraternity based at the University of Sto. Tomas, with several fraternity members trying to cover up Castillo’s death.

The investigation also showed the school was lax in observing the anti-hazing law.

Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, a friend of the Castillo family, said justice has finally been served to Atio and his family, classmates, and fraternity brothers who boldly pursued the truth.

"Atio can now claim eternal rest with his death serving to cleanse the fraternity world. I truly hope that Atio's death will teach every aspiring frat man that violence should never be a part of their initiation rites masquerading as tests of courage, loyalty and camaraderie," he said.

He said the new law cannot bring back the son his parents lost, the brother his sister deeply misses, and the popular friend he was to everyone but it will put an end to senseless violence.

"Although Atio is gone, his short life has left us a legacy in the form of a law that will make all fratmen stop senseless violence in their initiation rites. It will strengthen unity against violence and promote peace in and out of our  campuses," Zubiri added.

Senator Nancy Binay said with the total ban on hazing, the public can now expect schools and local government units to seriously check and monitor organizations that are still conduct the traditional initiation rites including other forms of abuse that are enumerated in the new anti-hazing law.

"Tigilan na ang pananakit sa kapwa. Let's put a stop to the vicious cycle of abuse, and make those persons who participated in the violent act be held accountable," she said.

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV congratulated Lacson and other co-authors of measure who worked for putting a stop to hazing.

"Panahon na na itigil ang kultura ng karahasan sa ating bansa. At ang pagpasa ng pinatibay na Anti-Hazing Law ay isang importanteng hakbang patungo rito. Panagutin ang mga nananakit at pumapatay sa kapwa Pilipino at sana wala na sa ating mga anak ang mawawalan ng buhay sa hazing," he said.

Under the new law that President Rodrigo Duterte has signed Republic Act 11053 on Wednesday, the definition of hazing has been expanded to include “physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte, or applicant" as a pre-requisite for admission or for continued membership in an organization.

Banned under the law are “all forms of hazing” not only in fraternities, sororities or organizations in schools, but also those in communities and even businesses and uniformed service learning institutions.

The law also requires schools to be “more active and proactive” in regulating school-based initiation rites, with schools required to exercise reasonable supervision and take proactive steps to protect students from danger of participating in activities that will involve hazing.

Meanwhile, all members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who participated in unauthorized initiation rites, even if no hazing was conducted, shall be punished accordingly. Persons who had knowledge of any hazing acts committed but failed to report it to the authorities or those to be found guilty of hiding, concealing or hampering or obstructing investigation should be penalized.

Penalties include:

• penalty of reclusion temporal and P1 million on the participating officer and members of the fraternity who were involved in the hazing
• reclusion perpetua and P2 million on members who actually participated in hazing when under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and on non-resident or alumni who participate in hazing
• reclusion perpetua and P3 million on those who participated in hazing that resulted in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation
• P1 million on the school if it approved an initiation of a fraternity, sorority or organization where hazing occurred
• prision correccional (six months to six years) on anyone who intimidates or threatens another for recruitment. This includes “persistent and repeated” proposals or invitations to those who refused to join at least twice.
• P1 million for former officers or alumni who try to hide or obstruct investigation

If the offender is a member of the Bar, he or she shall be subject to disciplinary proceedings by the Supreme Court. If the offender practices another profession, he or she will be subject to regulation by the Professional Regulation Commission. — BAP, GMA News