Another Tau Gamma fratman surrenders

MANILA, Philippines — Another person of interest in the death by hazing of John Matthew Salilig surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday.

Aron Cruz, one of the fratmen tagged in the death of Salilig, was seen entering the building of the NBI head office in Quezon City.

Another member of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, Lester John Sus, has submitted his affidavit to the NBI.

Sus said he surrendered to the NBI on March 3, and that he did not participate in the hazing although he was present at the venue to “bond” with other members.

“I didn’t get involved. I did not see the hazing. I was just there for the bonding,” Sus said in Filipino.

He said he had no idea that he was linked to the death of Salilig, although he suspected that he would be as he was at the venue where the neophyte was undergoing initiation rites.

Not enough

More teeth should be given to the Anti-Hazing Law as it is not enough to prevent hazing that led to the deaths of some recruits, Sen. Raffy Tulfo said yesterday.

During a joint hearing of the Senate committees on justice and human rights, and public order presided over by Sen. Francis Tolentino, Tulfo said 11 fraternity recruits died due to hazing since the passage of Republic Act 8049 in 1995 and amended by RA 11053 in 2018.

“The anti-hazing law is not enough. We have to provide it with more teeth to make fraternities, sororities and organizations involved in hazing more responsible and to make those who had a chance to prevent these deaths liable,” Tulfo said.

Salilig died at the hands of his Tau Gamma Phi fraternity brothers. His body was found buried in a shallow grave in Imus, Cavite on Feb. 28, or 10 days after he died from hazing.

Tulfo said a total of 65 people died from hazing since 1950.

“The problem with hazing is that it starts out as a voluntary activity, willingly participated in by these kids. In fact, it is condoned by schools, believe it or not, parents and older members. Nobody will say that they condone it, but they do,” Tulfo said.

“Let’s admit it, hazing, in its many forms, is accepted, institutionalized and even upheld as something noble. And it is all OK until someone goes out of hand and another child dies in hands of his would-be brother. And the cycle continues,” he added.

Tulfo said it is hard to hold people liable because these types of organizations are shrouded in secrecy, in a bond that dictates outright blind obedience to the seniors and masters.

Tolentino, Tulfo and Sen. Ronald Bato dela Rosa are eyeing stiffer penalties of reclusion perpetua against fraternity officials and elders, administrators of universities and owners of propertues where hazing rites are conducted and resulted in the death of a member.

Tulfo said the provision of the law that two school representatives should be present was not being observed since the school was not even aware of the initiation rites.

“Another provision that should be amended is that the owner of the place where the hazing is conducted should be held liable as an accomplice. When he has actual knowledge of the hazing conducted therein, but failed to take any action to prevent the same from occurring,” he said.

Tulfo said the owner of the property could not say he was not aware of the initiation rites as he thought they were having a good time. – Cecille Suerte Felipe