Senate panels want frats, sororities registered in police stations

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Two Senate panels proposed amending anti-hazing laws to require fraternities and sororities to register in a police database, as well as P20-million penalties for deaths or injuries resulting from initiation rites.

The Senate committees on justice and human rights, and public order and dangerous drugs, in a joint recommendation, proposed the amendments after pointing out that existing anti-hazing laws focus too much on the individuals involved in the hazing ritual, but not the organizations itself.

“While RA (Republic Act) 8049 and RA 11053 did not shy away from imposing heavy punishment on those who inflict harm, even imposing liability on the school officials, and barangay, municipal, or city officials, both laws however, have inadvertently missed to include in the consideration of penalties the third, but most important, personality in every hazing-related death—the fraternity, sorority, or organization itself,” the joint recommendation read.

According to the panels, fraternities, sororities and similar organizations, both school-based or not, should be required to register their local chapters in their respective police stations, including its members and officers.

It shall then be collected in a national database by the Philippine National Police.

“The failure or refusal of the organization to comply with the same requirement shall be prima facie presumption of the organization’s illegal activities,” it added.

Fraternities, sororities, and similar organizations involved in the death of physical injury by members from initiation rites should also be liable to the families of the victims by making them liable to pay a fine of P20-million on top of litigation fees of the victim’s family.

Deaths or injuries proven to be caused by such organizations’ initiation rites would then result in the automatic cancellation of its SEC certificate or registration, as well as the declaration of the group as an illegal organization which makes its founders, officers and members punishable under the law.

The said recommendations came after the two committees investigated the death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig, who was killed in a hazing ritual conducted by Tau Gamma Phi fraternity members in Laguna.

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JPV