Duterte admits hazing in fraternity culture inextricable

MANILA, Philippines—President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Tuesday that hazing cannot be eliminated in the culture of fraternities.

Duterte issued the statement after the death of one of the fraternity members allegedly involved in hazing at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the death Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet Darwin Dormitorio.

Speaking to reporters before flying to Russia for an official visit, Duterte explained that hazing shouldn’t be excessive that it would ultimately lead to death.

“Di na tala matanggal ‘yan (You cannot eliminate hazing) unless you ban fraternities, make it criminal offense but it will raise many constitutional issues. ‘Di talaga mapigilan yan, pero dapat ‘yung tama tama lang, pag madala sa ospital mabuhay, wag lang ‘ung mamatay,” Duterte said.

(You cannot stop it but it should be at moderation that it would not lead to death.)

Duterte admitted that he himself went through a beating when he joined the Lex Talionis fraternity in San Beda Law School and was hospitalized for three days due to “massive hematoma (swelling of clotted blood).”

Duterte signed last year signed a law banning all forms of hazing law after the death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo III./ac