DLSU suspends cadet officers' training program over alleged hazing – report

De La Salle University is in hot water again for another hazing incident, this time involving a registered school organization.

While the College of St. Benilde is busy investigating the death of hazing victim Guillo Cesar Servando, DLSU has suspended the Cadet Officer Candidate Course (COCC) program of its Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) after its corps commander was implicated in a hazing incident, student publication The Lasallian reported on Sunday.

The hazing complaint came from the parents of a former cadet who was allegedly punched and locked in a cabinet by his ROTC superiors.

The investigation started in June and may take until December, the report added.

"While the investigation is ongoing, the program has been temporarily suspended to prevent interactions between cadets that could lead to possible interference with the outcome of the investigation," the Lasallian reported.

"The COCC program, meanwhile, is eyed to be reinstated during the second term, the same time that the regular National Training and Service Program (NSTP) will begin," it added.

"The investigation is being fast-tracked… the University Legal Counsel has determined that there is a probable cause to pursue the case," the report said.

Hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy’s Naval Reserve Command, which supervises the university's ROTC program, is conducting a separate investigation into the case.

In February, some students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines protested alleged hazing in the school's ROTC program.

'No place for hazing in DLSU'

University President and Chancellor Br. Ricky Laguda FSC reiterated that hazing is not welcome in DLSU.

“Whether true or not, hazing has no place in the University or society in general… Hazing is intrinsically evil. People who do hazing have no conscience. Period,” he said in the same report.

Meanwhile, the publication clarified that their report "has no relation to fraternities or the unfortunate passing of Guillo Cesar Servando, a DLS-College of Saint Benilde student."

Servando died two weeks ago after an initiation rite that included hazing. Three other neophytes who wanted to join the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternity were also injured from the incident.

GMA News Online tried to contact the university's ROTC officers but they were not available for comment. — Rouchelle R. Dinglasan/JDS, GMA News