Cops stop hazing

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The police arrived on time to stop a supposed initiation rites of a fraternity at Hacienda Nasipunan in Barangay 12 of Victorias City, Negros Occidental, Monday afternoon.

Superintendent Santiago Rapiz, Victorias City police chief, said his men apprehended 21 members of the Tau Gamma Triskelions before the initiation of their recruits.

Of the 21 fratmen, 17 were college students while four others were out of school youths, Rapiz said, adding that his office received intelligence reports that there was a supposed initiation at around 3:30 p.m. prompting the police response.

Frat leaders, however, denied they were about to conduct initiation rites for recruits, insisting they were only having a meeting and that they were supposed to carry out penalties for their inactive members, Rapiz said.

Rapiz said the 21 frat members were first taken to the police station, but were later released because they did not  violate the Anti-Hazing Law and no crime was committed. "We preempted it," he said, although the 17 students were turned over to school officials who will in turn inform the parents about the matter.

"We identified these students. We all have their names," said Rapiz, as he advised the frat leaders not to engage in hazing because someone might die during the rites.

The policeman however recovered from the scene two paddles, apparently to be used for the initiation activities.