By Camille A. Aguinaldo

WITH 19 affirmative votes, the Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading a bill seeking to completely ban hazing as a prerequisite for admission into a membership of a fraternity, sorority or organization.

Senate Bill No. 1662 or the act amending Republic Act 8049 to strengthen the law on hazing and regulate other forms of initiation rites was introduced by Senators Gregorio B. Honasan II, Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Loren B. Legarda, Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV, Panfilo M. Lacson, Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva and Vicente C. Sotto III.

It was sponsored by Mr. Lacson and co-sponsored by Senators Gatchalian and Juan Miguel F. Zubiri

“Hazing needs to stop now. Awareness must be raised as to the fact that there is no unity, no brotherhood, no strength, no honor and no respect in hazing. It is merely violence,” said Mr. Lacson, chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, in a statement.

The families of hazing victims University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio T. Castillo III and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student Guillo Cesar Servando witnessed the bill’s approval and handed white roses to senators as a symbol of gratitude.

It was Mr. Castillo’s death due to hazing which prompted a legislative inquiry and proposals to amend provisions of the Anti-Hazing Law.

In the amended version, the bill defines hazing as any physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte or applicant for admission or continuing membership into the fraternity, sorority or organization.

The proposed measure sought to ban all forms of hazing in school fraternities, sororities, organizations as well as those in the community or other associations, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), and other similar uniformed service learning institutions.

Mr. Lacson said the bill also expanded the coverage of hazing to include paddling, whipping, beating, branding, as well as any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which would likely adverse the physical and psychological health of the applicant.

Fraternities, sororities and organizations were also required to submit an application to school authorities of their detailed initiation rites seven days before the scheduled activity. School representatives should also ensure that no hazing is done in an initiation rite.

“The bill also requires the appointment and identification of advisers, who will be presumed to have knowledge and consent to the commission on any unlawful act in the violation of the Anti-Hazing Law,” Mr. Lacson said.

The bill also introduced stiffer penalties for hazing, imposing a punishment of reclusion perpetua and a P3-million fine to persons who participated in hazing resulting in death, rape, sodomy or mutilation.

Members of a fraternity who participated in the hazing would suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal and a P1-million fine. If they were under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, the penalty of reclusion perpetua and P2-million fine will be handed down.

Penalties would also be imposed on persons who had knowledge of any hazing acts but fail to report to authorities, those found guilty of obstructing investigation, school authorities if they failed to prevent hazing or if they consented, those who force another person to join a particular organization, the owner of the place where hazing is conducted, and local officials.

If convicted of the crime, the person’s hazing offense will reflect on his or her scholastic record, personal or employment record.

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