Senate passes ban on hazing on third and final reading

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.