HB 6084 wants to criminalize hazing, impose life imprisonment

CEBU, Philippines - To solve the problem of hazing, Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy filed before Congress House Bill 6084 declaring hazing rituals as a criminal offense.

Under House Bill 6084, Herrera-Dy wants officials and members of fraternities involved in the rituals to be meted the penalty of life imprisonment once found guilty.

“This proposed legislation opens perpetrators up to civil, as well as criminal liability for their participation in hazing activities and ensures that perpetrators are vulnerable to the most severe criminal liability available, either through this Act or an alternate criminal penalty calling for even more severe punishment,” Herrera-Dy said in a press release.

She said under the bill, hazing is defined “as an intentional, knowing or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against an individual and that the person knew or should have known, endangers the physical health or safety of the individual.”

Moreover, Herrera-Dy said hazing will include whipping, beating, striking, branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of any food, liquor and drug.

She said violators of hazing may face life imprisonment if it will result to death, rape, sodomy or mutilation and 17 to 20 years imprisonment if the victim becomes insane, imbecile, impotent or blind.

Perpetrators also face a penalty of 14 to 17 years imprisonment if the victim may have lost its voice, sense of hearing, smell, sight or an arm, leg and foot.

In the proposed bill, Herrera-Dy said that if the victim did not sustain physical injuries, the violators may be meted a minimum penalty of six months and one day and fines of not more than P50,000.

Under the bill, she said the physical, mental and psychological testing and training of the members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP) will be exempted.

Aside from trainings of AFP and PNP, the “customary athletic events or competitions” are also exempted.

“Under the bill, all hazing activities will be declared illegal, instead of just being regulated under the present law,” she said in a press release.

Enforcement

Lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal said there are enough laws about hazing but the problem is always on the enforcement of the law.

 “How many have been prosecuted and convicted under the present Anti-Hazing Law?” Oaminal asked.

Alpha Sigma Omega National President Ramer Salonoy said they welcome the new development, House Bill 6084, the same way that they welcomed RA 8049 known as the Anti-Hazing Law.

“Alpha Sigma Omega has always been so supportive with the Anti-Hazing Law. There are several ways to test loyalty and brotherhood and hazing is not an option since the implementation of RA 8049. We absolutely abolished hazing as a part of our ritual,” he said.

 “We require our acolytes to render genuine public service since it is also the thrust of the organization,” Salonoy added.

Moreover, he said that as a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered fraternity, they welcome the development and will support the elimination of “evil in fraternities and the unreasonable test of brotherhood.”  (FREEMAN)