25/01/2018
Unsaon nalang ang tradition 😠
TOTAL BAN OF HAZING OR THE HOUSE BILL 5673
The House of Representatives on Monday (January 21, 2018) approved on third and final reading a measure seeking a total of ban on hazing as part of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and other organizations.
Voting 210-0, the chamber approved House Bill 6573, which also regulates other forms of initiation rites and repeals Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law.
The salient features of the substitute bill include the total ban of all forms of hazing during the course of initiation rites. Only initiation rites that do not inflict direct or direct physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury to the neophyte will be allowed with compliance to certain requirements.
School-based fraternities, sororities and other organizations will likewise be required to register with proper school authorities before they conduct activities. They will also be assigned with a faculty adviser to monitor their activities.
Aside from this, all new community-based organizations will also be required to register with their respective local government units.
Under the measure, if death, su***de, r**e, so**my or mutilation resulted from the hazing, the penalty for perpetrators will be increased from 20 years to one day to life imprisonment.
It also requires a faculty adviser to monitor activities of fraternities, sororities and organizations, and mandates schools to encourage these formations to "engage and foster holistic personal growth among their members."
The approval of the bill in the House came almost four months after the death of University of Santo Tomas freshman law student Horacio "Atio" Castillo III, allegedly due to fraternity hazing..