Senator Ronald Dela Rosa urged the fraternity and the school administration to initiate additional measures in protecting students against hazing.
"I am not for banning fraternities but they should police their ranks. The school administration is very crucial kasi (because) the police cannot be around every square-inch of the directorate. So in the ranks ng (of) fraternity and sorority organizations, they have to police themselves. At yung school ay dapat mag-add ng additional measures para maiwasan yan (And the school must add additional measures to avoid this)," Dela Rosa said in an interview during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay.
"Maximized na yung Hazing Law talaga eh. Andyan na lahat, nilagay na lahat. Proactive measures na lang siguro sa (The hazing law has already been maximized. Everything is there, all was already included. Maybe proactive measures are needed on the part of the) school administration," he added.
Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, also urged the fraternity seniors to educate their younger ranks to avoid hazing incidents.
Condemning the death of Salilig, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said while the Adamson University has initiated its investigation and the Tau Gamma Phi’s Triskelion Council of Imus City has vowed openness to collaborate with the bereaved family, it is crucial to stay vigilant until justice is served and those involved are held fully accountable.
Condemning the death of Salilig, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said while the Adamson University has initiated its investigation and the Tau Gamma Phi’s Triskelion Council of Imus City has vowed openness to collaborate with the bereaved family, it is crucial to stay vigilant until justice is served and those involved are held fully accountable.
"I am also urging our government agencies and our partners from schools and communities to ensure that the mechanisms provided for under the Anti-Hazing Act are in place to protect our youth. One life lost to hazing is one life too many. Hindi na natin dapat pinalalagpas ang ganitong mga uri ng karahasan, lalo na sa ating mga kabataan (We should not let this kind of violence, especially to our youths)," Gatchalian said in a statement.
Passed in 1995, the Anti-Hazing Law regulates initiation rites and prohibits physical harm and violence against applicants.
It mandates that no hazing or initiation rites shall be allowed without prior written notice to the school authorities or head of organization seven days before the event where at least two representatives of the school or organization must be present.
The law also states that “if the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals.”
Life imprisonment will be imposed on individuals involved if initiation rites result in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation.
Authorities arrested on Wednesday, March 1, the father of a person of interest in fraternity hazing that allegedly killed 24-year-old student John Matthew Salilig.
Biñan City Police Station (CPS) Chief Lt. Col. Virgilio M. Jopia told the Manila Bulletin that they served a search warrant to seize the vehicle reportedly used to bring Salilig’s body to Cavite.
Upon arriving at the suspect’s residence in Parañaque, however, the father of the suspect reportedly tried to stop the police from serving the warrant, which led to his arrest.
“Kailangan namin ‘yung ebidensya na ‘yun (We need that evidence) but he tried to intervene with our investigation, that is why we arrested him for obstruction of justice,” Jopia said in a phone interview.
Jopia said aside from the arrested father, they currently have six individuals under investigation in relation to the case, three of whom are students of Adamson University.
On Feb. 28, authorities found the body of Salilig in a vacant lot at the back of a subdivision in Barangay Malagasang I-G in Imus, Cavite.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the administration of Adamson University says the university is conducting its own investigation and is already coordinating with authorities on the matter.
Information reads: "Natagpuang patay at nakabaon sa isang bakanteng lote ang isang estudyante ng Adamson University.
"Isa sa mga huling nakasama ng estudyante ang nagsabi sa mga awtoridad na biktima ito ng hazing."
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