SENATOR Jinggoy Estrada assured hazing and other criminal acts are prohibited in the proposed bills reviving the two-year mandatory Reserve Officer Training Corps or ROTC program.

Estrada said hazing is another form of bullying and therefore should never be part of any activity as he emphasized the purpose of ROTC training is to provide the youth with the necessary skills not only in military aspect but more importantly in disaster preparedness and response to calamities.

He further said discipline and proper attitude the training imbibes in the students are also part of the life skills that will be helpful to them in all aspects of their lives.

“Hindi kailangan mangyari ang hazing sa ilalim ng ROTC program at hindi natin papayagan na isagawa ito sa ilalim ng panukalang ROTC program,” Estrada said.

“It has resulted in tragic deaths even until now when we already have a law against it. The Anti-Hazing Law should be strictly implemented. May paglalagyan sa kulungan ang mga gumagawa nito,” he added.

Meanwhile, Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go expressed disappointment in the use of physical violence during recruitment, stating that it is not a measure of one’s ability to be a good member of a fraternity or any organization.

“Dapat po ay kapatiran, hindi kamatayan…Hindi po nasusukat sa physical violence na ginagamit sa recruitment ang pagiging magaling na future member ng isang fraternity. Hindi ‘yan sukatan ng leadership kung bubugbugin mo ang katawan ng kasamahan mo through hazing,” said Go.
He urged authorities to investigate the incident and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.