Proposed 'Servando Act' seeks total ban on frat hazing

MANILA, Philippines – A lawmaker on Tuesday filed a bill that would replace the Anti-Hazing Law following the death of College of St. Benilde (CSB) student Guillo Cesar Servando.

Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian pointed out that the current Anti-Hazing Law or Republic Act 8049 has been proven toothless in not only preventing hazing but also in going after those responsible for such violent acts, including school authorities.

"According to its formal title, R.A. 8049 merely seeks to regulate hazing when it should ban it outright. Anything less than the express prohibition and criminalization of hazing is not enough," Gatchalian said in the explanatory note of House Bill 4714.

Gatchalian's filing of the new bill was prompted by the hazing incident involving Servando, who died last June 28 due to injuries from supposed violent initiation rites conducted by members of the CSB chapter of the Tau Gamma Phi Fraternitas.

A week before Servando's death, another college student, an unidentified 17-year-old from the University of the Philippines, was also hospitalized for two days after undergoing the initiation rites of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.

Besides banning hazing and violent initiation rites, the new bill also imposes heavier penalties, including the provision of damages to the victims and their family.

Under the proposed measure, officers of the fraternity, sorority or organization as well as participating members involved in the hazing will face imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of P1 million. If found to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, they will be fined P3 million and face the same amount of jail time.

If the hazing resulted to death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation of the victim, participants will be penalized with imprisonment of up to 30 years and a fine of P5 million.

Under the Servando Act, the school will also be fined P5 million if it approved an organization's written application to conduct initiation that resulted in hazing.