Republic Act No. 8049, or the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995, prohibits physical violence in initiation rites of fraternities and similar organizations and penalizes with life imprisonment activities that result in “death, rape, sodomy or mutilation.”
Despite the tough law, however, hazing continues to claim the lives of hapless students.
On Sept. 17, Horacio Tomas Castillo III, 22, a freshman law student at the University of Santo Tomas, was declared dead on arrival at Chinese General Hospital in Manila after sustaining injuries during initiation into Aegis Juris.
On June 28, 2014, Guillo Cesar Servando, 18, a sophomore student at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, died after sustaining injuries during hazing by Tau Gamma Phi (TGP) at a house in Makati City.
On July 30, 2012, Marc Andre Marcos, 21, a freshman law student at San Beda College, died from injuries inflicted during hazing by Lex Leonum Fraternitas (LLF) at a farm in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province.
Five months earlier, another San Beda law freshman, Marvin Reglos, 25, succumbed to injuries sustained during initiation rites held by Lambda Rho Beta at an Antipolo City resort on Feb. 19, 2012.
On Sept. 15, 2011, Nor Silongan, 16, a criminology student at Notre Dame of Tacurong College, died from injuries inflicted during TGP initiation rites. Charges were filed against the suspects, whose identities were withheld.
On Oct. 27, 2010, Noel Borja, 17, an Alternative Learning Systems student, was found inside a plastic drum by the Pasig River near the Parola compound in Manila. A fellow neophyte, Nilo Abarratigue, told authorities that he and Borja received 60 paddle whacks and were punched for at least 60 seconds by TGP members.
On Aug. 15, 2010, the bruised body of 19-year-old EJ Karl Intia, a University of Makati student, was retrieved from a ravine in Santa Maria, Laguna province, after undergoing initiation into Alpha Phi Omega. Eleven fraternity members have been charged in the case.
On July 18, 2010, Menardo Clamucha Jr., 18, a second year criminology student at the University of Iloilo, died from heavy beatings, prompting the filing of a criminal complaint against 25 members of Kapatiran ng mga Kabataang Kriminolohiya in Pototan, Iloilo province.
In August 2008, Chester Paulo Abracias, 18, a sophomore marine technology student at Enverga University in Lucena City, died after more than 20 TGP members allegedly took turns beating him. His body was found wrapped in banana leaves and a blanket on a coconut plantation.
On Feb. 10, 1991, Leonardo “Lenny” Villa, a freshman at Ateneo Law School, died from serious physical injuries sustained from three days of hazing by Aquila Legis Juris members at a house in Caloocan City.
Six more hazing-related deaths took place after Villa’s death, leading to the enactment of the Anti-Hazing Law in 1995. —Compiled by Rafael T. Antonio