De Lima seeks review of anti-hazing law

Justice Secretery Leila de Lima. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines – Justice Secretary Leila De Lima on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to investigate the death of a San Beda College law student, who allegedly died during a hazing incident in Antipolo over the weekend.

De Lima said the NBI should conduct a parallel investigation into the death of Marvin Reglos, a freshman law student. She also called for a review of the anti-hazing law to ensure that leaders of fraternity involved in hazing are also held responsible.

“It’s our duty to find out the truth and who were involved. It’s our duty to find out. It’s our duty also to investigate and bring them to the bar of justice. We have an anti-hazing act. It’s a criminal act, De Lima said in an ambush interview.

De Lima noted that Reglos’ death came even as the Supreme Court handed down its final ruling on the killing of University of the Philippines student Lenny Villa due to fraternity violence in February 1991.

“Have we not learned our lessons from those past tragedies?” De Lima said.

She said Congress needed to amend the anti-hazing law so that fraternity heads would also be held responsible. “I think we really need to review it, particularly we should study the doctrine of command responsibility of the heads of fraternities who impliedly or expressly authorized hazing. There must some liability on their part,” De Lima said.