Bill filed to amend anti-hazing law

MANILA, Philippines - Three party-list congressmen have filed a bill that would amend the anti-hazing law to curb the recent surge in fraternity-related violence.

Reps. Christopher Co, Rodel Batocabe, and Alfredo Garbin Jr., all of party-list group Ako Bicol, filed Bill 5912, which would amend Republic Act 8049, the anti-hazing law, which was enacted on June 7, 1995.

“The recent case of Marvin Reglos, a freshman law student from San Beda Law School, has produced yet again another victim of fraternity-related violence,” Co said.

He cited the recent Supreme Court decision written by Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, which found five members of the Aquila Legis fraternity guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in the death of Leonardo “Lenny” Villa during their organization’s initiation rites.

Co said the high tribunal recommended that Congress amend the anti-hazing law “to include the fact of intoxication and the presence of non-resident or alumni fraternity members during hazing as aggravating circumstances that would increase the applicable penalties.” He said the bill “is our answer to that call.”

Under the bill, Section 4 of RA 8049 would be amended to read: “If the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals.”

Those involved in hazing would “suffer the penalty of life imprisonment if death, rape, sodomy or mutilation results therefrom and the penalty of reclusion temporal in its maximum (17 years, four months and one day to 20 years) if as a consequence of hazing, the victim becomes insane, imbecile, impotent or blind.”

The guilty parties would suffer the penalty of reclusion temporal in its medium period (14 years, four months and one day to 17 years and four months) if the victim loses his speech or the power to hear or smell, or loses an eye, a hand, a foot, an arm or a leg, or otherwise becomes incapacitated.

Batocabe said responsible officials of the school or of the police, military or citizen’s army training organization may impose appropriate administrative sanctions on students, faculty members or personnel involved in hazing even before their conviction.

“The owner of the place where hazing is conducted would be 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.

If the hazing is held in the home of one of the officers or members of the fraternity, group or organization, the parents of such officer or member would be liable as principals if they have actual knowledge of the hazing conducted in their place but failed to take any action to prevent it, he said.

School authorities, including faculty members, who consent to the hazing or who know about it but do not prevent it would be liable as accomplices, he added.