Schools told to enforce anti-violence measures

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has reminded schools to strictly implement measures against violence following the death of a freshman law student of the University of Santo Tomas.

CHED chair Patricia Licuanan said they have an existing order, issued in 1995, which outlines preventive measures on violence and the corresponding sanctions for such actions.

“It was terrible and truly sad,” Licuanan said, referring to the death of Horacio Castillo III following a fraternity hazing incident.

“We have asked our National Capital Region office to look into it. I have not yet received any feedback,” she added.

At the Senate hearing on CHED’s budget, Licuanan said they strongly condemn the incident and that they regularly remind schools of the 1995 memorandum.

The memorandum encourages schools to promote programs and projects to instill the value of human life on students.

The recommendations include a monthly meeting of heads of fraternities, regular gathering of fraternity members, internal policing and creation of a reporting mechanism of possible conflict.

“Historically, fraternities were founded to promote brotherhood and camaraderie among groups of people, including students of colleges and universities,” the order reads.

“Fraternities and other student organizations must serve to forge not only brotherhood as the ultimate bonding of all men and women inside and outside the confines of the universities, but must exist to preserve the value of human life,” it adds.

Meanwhile, the San Beda College of Law reiterated its stance against fraternities and sororities.

“The untimely death of a young promising freshman student due to hazing is the very reason that the College of Law strictly prohibits and condemns membership in any and all fraternities and sororities,” it said in a statement.

“All students are therefore warned that the administration shall not hesitate to impose the penalty of exclusion on any student found and proven to be a member of any of these organizations and/or those who are involved directly or indirectly in the recruitment or any of their activities that are totally abhorrent to the principles of our Benedictine community,” it said.