Defensor on hazing: Pain doesn’t measure one’s loyalty, commitment

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor. PHOTO FROM DEFENSOR’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

MANILA, Philippines — The physical pain or challenge experienced during hazing rituals is not the yardstick to measure one’s loyalty or commitment to a certain group or organization, or even their resilience during hard times.

Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor has this to say on issue regarding the hazing death of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio.

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“Hindi basis ‘yung sakit doon sa commitment ng tao. Hindi basis ‘yung pagpapahirap para siya ay maging tapat, masukat ‘yung loyalty niya, ‘yung pakikisama sa loob [Pain is not a basis for the commitment of a person. The suffering is not a basis for him to be true, loyal, or establish camaraderie],” Defensor said in a news forum in Quezon City.

Defensor maintained that there are other ways to challenge one’s commitment or resilience without having to inflict physical pain, urging organizations that practice hazing to study such methods.

“Tingnan nila ‘yung mga pag-aaral na ginagawa psychologically kung paano pinapalakas o pinapadaan sa isang mahirap na proseso ‘yung isang tao na hindi mo direktang sinasaktan [They should look into the studies of these methods where they can trust one’s strength and resilience without having to hurt them physically],” the party-list lawmaker said.

He also noted that there is a law that strictly prohibits all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools, including citizens’ military training and citizens’ army training.

“May batas na eh [There is a law]. So unless you amend the law, you have to follow the law… ‘Yung batas na yan malinaw at mahigpit, hindi na pwede ‘yung hazing [The law is clear and strict that hazing is not allowed],” Defensor said. /jpv