CHED tasks San Beda College to report on Reglos hazing case

Following the second death allegedly due to hazing in San Beda College, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has directed the school to explain what sanctions it has imposed on those students charged in the Marvin Reglos case last February.

 

Condemning the recent death of Marc Andre Marcos, CHED reminded the college of its heavy responsibilities and duties under RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law.

 

"The Commission is alarmed by this second casualty from San Beda College and has directed the school to explain what sanctions it has imposed on those students charged in the Reglos case," CHED said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

 

CHED said it had issued an urgent directive to all private and public higher education institutions reiterating their strict compliance to the provision of the law, and the immedicate submission of a certified list of fraternities and sororities existing in their institutions. According to CHED, other schools have been submitting the required lists but San Beda College could not, as it "does not recognize fraternities, sororities or similar organizations... hazing incidents are serious administrative offenses, explicitly classified as major offenses," CHED quoted the college's response in the statement.

 

The school added, “…considering that they are not recognized, the school could not therefore submit, as of this time, a certified list of officers and members,” CHED said.

 

San Beda College has not responded to GMA News Online's requests for comment on the matter as of posting time.  

 

"The Commission once again calls upon the officials of the College, the officers and members of the fraternity to undertake with utmost urgency all proper and necessary measures to ferret out the truth, investigate with expediency the circumstances leading to the senseless loss of a young life so that the perpetrators of this latest dastardly acts would be brought to justice," CHED said.

 

"San Beda College does not approve or countenance membership in any clandestine organization, which employs as part of its ceremonies or other practices any act that results in injury to any person, through intimidation, violence, reckless imprudence or coercion," read an official statement of the San Beda Law Community posted by the San Beda College of Law - Law Student Government on its Facebook page.

 

It said the administration has required every student, as a condition for enrolment, to sign an undertaking not to join fraternities, with a statement of the rule prohibiting membership in these organizations and an enumeration of the reasons for the prohibition.

 

According to a police report from the Cavite Provincial Police Office, Marcos had signed an undertaking not to join any fraternity, a copy of which was presented by Atty. Risel Castillo, Prefect of Student Affairs of San Beda College of Law. 

 

"Students are repeatedly reminded of the adverse effects of fraternities through conspicuous notices, students' handbook, and during the freshman orientation. The school even made recruitment to these organizations an administrative offense. Unfortunately, recruiters abound, and their ways are viciously sly, evading detection. Moreover, the enticement offered by the false promise of better opportunities for members of exclusive organizations in the legal profession is something we have to contend with," the statement said.

 

According to the statement, the college has formed a panel of inquiry consisting of three professors, two students and two members of the community. "Those found responsible shall, with due process, be excluded from the school," the statement said. — ELR, GMA News