Student's death prompts St. Benilde's anti-hazing drive

MANILA, Philippines — The death of Guillo Cesar Servando, a De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde student, prompted the school's student body and administration to launch a campaign calling for the abolition of violence in fraternities.

Servando, who died in a suspected Tau Gamma Phi fraternity initiation hazing last Saturday, was mourned by his colleagues and teachers through the "Break with Tradition" advocacy drive featuring a poster showing a broken paddle as well as a social media hashtag #BenildeAgainstHazing.

#BenildeAgainstHazing #EndFraternityRelatedViolence (Photo credit @SinagBenildeano) pic.twitter.com/cEbbFrkRne

— More Fun In DLSU (@morefuninDLSU) June 29, 2014

Teenagers John Paul Naval, Lorenzo Agustin and another unidentified victim are still recuperating from the harassment.

Related: St. Benilde sophomore dies in fraternity hazing

Facebook and Twitter users supported the campaign saying, "Hazing is not a must" in fraternity and sorority admission and calling for #JusticeforGuilloServando.

A De La Salle University alumnus posted on the college's Facebook page condemning the activity.

"Hazing or fraternities were never a part of Lasallian culture or tradition. The [La Salle] brothers always forbid this kind of activity. We must remain vigilant against these sort of troublesome people that we may be better protected," the Facebook post said.

Another Twitter user says the campaign has to "go after the root, not the cause" by doing away with fraternities altogether.

Robin Serrano, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde vice chancellor, reiterated the institution's prohibition of fraternities and fraternity-related violence in a statement issued on Sunday.

"We will continue to cooperate with the police authorities as they investigate this deplorable incident," Serrano said.