Duterte on hazing: Hindi mo talaga matanggal 'yan

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday acknowledged that violent initiation rites cannot be eliminated from the culture of fraternities, as the tragic death of a Philippine Military Academy cadet due to hazing continues to hound the institution.

Duterte, however, said he is against hazing that is “carried too far” during a press conference before his departure for Moscow for an official visit.

“Hindi mo talaga matanggal ‘yan unless you ban fraternity for all time, make it a criminal offense to join a fraternity. But that would raise so many constitutional issues. Hindi mo talaga mapigilan ‘yan,” he said.

Instead, Duterte advised fraternities that conduct hazing to lessen the severity of their rites.

“Pagka ma-’brod’ mo na, anong tingin mo sa kanya? Anong tingin niya sa iyo? That will create a lifetime animosity. [Dapat] ‘yang tamang-tama lang. ‘Yang ‘pag madala sa ospital, mabuhay,” he said.

Duterte revealed that he was once hospitalized because of hazing.

“Me, I’d like to tell you, I was hospitalized for three days, massive hematoma,” he said.

The president added that he and some law school classmates, including former Supreme Court Justice Bambit Mendoza, wrote San Beda’s Lex Talionis Fraternity to “do away with the physical [hazing]” but to no avail.

Meanwhile, Duterte said he will withhold judgment on the recent hazing cases within the PMA until a final investigation report is submitted to him.

“Eventually the administrative case, pupunta ‘yan sa akin for final. Kung mag-motion for reconsideration, the final appeal administratively is to the commander-in-chief, ako. So prudence would say or demand that I’ll just keep it to myself,” he explained.

PMA plebe Darwin Dormitorio died on September 18 due to hazing. 

A physical examination of all fourth class cadets following the death of Dormitorio bared signs of maltreatment of plebes. 

The newly installed PMA commandant of cadets has since vowed to “wage war” against hazing. —Virgil Lopez/Julia Ornedo/LDF, GMA News