Dela Rosa not keen on banning fraternities

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is not keen on banning fraternities.

Dela Rosa made the remark on Wednesday after a student died of fraternity hazing.

“Sana mag-statute [‘yung school] ng additional measures na mabantayan ‘yung bawat estudyante na hindi mabiktima sa hazing,” the senator said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

(I hope the school provides additional measures to guide each student to not be victimized by hazing.)

“I am not for banning fraternities but siguro ‘yung (the) fraternities themselves should police their ranks and the school administration is very crucial [to guard the students]… The police cannot be around everywhere,” he added.

While the former Philippine National Police chief is not in favor of banning fraternities, he stressed that he is not pro-hazing.

“Hindi tayo pwedeng maging pro-hazing. Buhay ang nakataya diyan,” he said.

(We cannot be pro-hazing. Life is at stake there.)

For dela Rosa, the anti-hazing law is already “maximized” and amendments to it are not needed.

“Maximized na ‘yung hazing law talaga. Andiyan na lahat, nilagay na lahat. Dapat maging proactive na lang siguro,” he said.

(The anti-hazing law is already maximized. Everything is there. We just need to be proactive.)

John Matthew Salilig, a 24-year-old chemical engineering student of Adamson University, was reported to receive at least 70 hits during the initiation rites of fraternity Tau Gamma Phi. His body was found in Imus, Cavite on Tuesday.

JMS