Hazing victims had it coming

The case of “Aubrey,” a rape victim who was jailed by her alleged assailant, a police captain, typifies the oppression of an ordinary citizen by a person in power.

For those who haven’t read this column last Tuesday and Thursday, Aubrey slapped Senior Insp. Rex Pascua, her alleged rapist, during a confrontation between her and the police officer at the offices of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

Pascua promptly arrested Aubrey and brought her to the Makati Police headquarters where she was detained for one day before yours truly bailed her out.

Where were the cause-oriented groups, like Gabriela, while Aubrey was detained for losing her cool in defense of her honor and good name?

Aubrey told me she couldn’t control herself after hearing Pascua lie to Napolcom investigators about her.

Aubrey’s case fits Gabriela’s vaunted advocacy in helping women in distress, but the cause-oriented group hasn’t extended her a helping hand.

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If Aubrey was a prominent figure or a  rich woman, the response from Gabriela would probably have been lightning quick.

But Aubrey is an ordinary housewife and  a low-salaried employee, so Gabriela probably thinks she’s not worth the  trouble.

So a poor woman who is oppressed can’t expect help from Gabriela or other prowomen groups because her case won’t generate publicity.

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I agree with fellow columnist Ma. Ceres P. Doyo that all frat hazing victims were willing victims.

“They had it coming. It is not nice to blame the dead. But things need to be said,” wrote Doyo in her “Human Face” column on Thursday.

Students who die or get maimed in fraternity or sorority initiation rites only had themselves to blame for their fate.

When the senior frat members started beating them to a pulp, they could have said, “Enough! This is demeaning. I quit.”

When I was still in college, I tried to join a fraternity, but got out on the first hour of the initiation rites after one of the “masters” ordered me to wash my face with water from the toilet bowl.

Why would I demean myself just to be a member of a fraternity?