Anti-Hazing Law also covers complicit people in hazing
MANAOAG—Fourth District Rep. Christopher de Venecia welcomed the signing of Republic Act 11053 (Anti-Hazing Act of 2018) into law by President Duterte, amending RA 8049 passed 23 years ago in 1995, saying this has more teeth now since it also covers complicit people in hazing.
De Venecia, one of the many authors of House Bill 6573 or the “Anti-Hazing Act” pointed out that it prohibits the act of hazing, regulates other forms of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and other groups and provides penalties for its violation.
He told local newsmen on July 12 here during the inauguration of a covered court in Barangay Baguinay, that he welcomes ”this as very, very noble and landmark legislation because it amends an existing law that only convicted one“ in spite of the fact that many were charged for the crime.
De Venecia said the new law prevents all forms of hazing, “it’s not just physical but even psychological because part of hazing is shouting at a person or humiliating his dignity, saying all bad things against them, to really crush and demoralize them, to really test their willpower if they really wanted to join your organization”.
He added the new law also covers people who have knowledge about the act committed but kept mum. They will also be subjected to very stiff penalties, he added. “This in a way will eliminate whisper networks happening in hazing,” he added.
“Many are afraid to talk or they know about hazing but they just turn a blind eye and go on with their everyday life,” he said.
“But we have a responsibility to be able to speak up…so at least now it covers all of the bases, has more teeth and there will be no more cases like what happened to Atio,” De Venecia added.
De Venecia referred to the death of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III, at the hands of his colleagues in the Aegis Juris fraternity, who suffered a heart attack after sustaining massive injuries inflicted on him during the initiation rites of Aegis Juris outside the UST campus in 2017.
De Venecia said this will send a message of fear to fraternities or sororities who will continue the culture of hazing as penalties are stiffer now.
He said Castillo’s death “opened this Pandora’s box, as they say, of whisper networks and…it was the one that sort of broke open the silence”.
The new law said person or persons who participate in the hazing shall suffer imprisonment for 20 years and one day to life imprisonment and a fine of P1 million if this results in the death, suicide, rape, sodomy or mutilation of the victim.
De Venecia said fraternities, sororities and organizations not based in school, such as those in communities, are also covered by the prohibition. (Eva Visperas)
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