Sotto not keen on probing PMA, UP hazing incidents; Gatchalian wants entire frat suspended

Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes that a legislative inquiry over the recent hazing incidents at the Philippine Military Academy and University of the Philippines is no longer needed.

"Hindi na siguro kailangan because the proper laws are in place and the investigation is already ongoing and the people involved are being investigated," Sotto said in a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Darwin Dormitorio, a 20-year-old PMA cadet died from injuries sustained from hazing inside the military academy.  He was found unconscious in his room and was declared dead on arrival at the hospital last September 18.

The PMA confirmed days later that he had died of hazing. His body reportedly bore bruises.

Meanwhiel, a Twitter post of a supposed UP student who survived a Sigma Rho hazing and who was then threatened with even more physical punishment if he spoke up in public about the ceremony recently went viral.

"Palagay ko hindi na kailangan kami na mag-hearing pa diyan. Air-tight na 'yung kinasa naming Anti-Hazing law," Sotto said.

"Wala na, kumpleto 'yun eh," he said.

In July 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, months after the death of University of Santo Tomas civil law student Horacio Castillo III.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, in a statement, said the entire fraternity, and not only the suspects, should be suspended pending the results of probe.

"While I understand that those allegedly involved have been put on preventive suspension, I call on President Danilo Concepcion to also preventively suspend the entire Sigma Rho fraternity pending the outcome of the investigation," he said.

The senator said the Student Disciplinary Tribunal should act swiftly on the case, adding that the UP should not let fraternity-related violence tar its reputation as the county's national university. —LBG/MDM, GMA News