Nation

SCHOOLS URGED TO BOOST MONITORING OF ‘NON-RECOGNIZED’ ORGANIZATIONS

SENATOR Francis Tolentino on Tuesday urged academe officials to intensify the monitoring of the activities of “non-recognized” organizations.

/ 8 March 2023

SENATOR Francis Tolentino on Tuesday urged academe officials to intensify the monitoring of the activities of “non-recognized” organizations.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights made the plea on Tuesday after the Senate inquiry on the hazing death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig.

“They could have monitored activities of non-recognized organizations. Tungkulin nila iyon eh. Makikita naman iyan, kumpol kumpol lagi iyan eh,” Tolentino said.

The senator also said that although the Adamson University administration made it clear that fraternities like Tau Gamma Phi are banned in their campus, underground fraternities continue to conduct activities within the premises of the educational institution.

“We heard the president of Adamson University say that fraternities are banned in their university. However, also through Facebook, we see how the Triskelion-Adamson Chapter so freely conducts the activities of their organization within school premises,” Tolentino said.

The senator cited the need to amend the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 to give it more teeth and impose heavier penalties on violators.

“Ang kailangan lang po natin matukoy kung ano po talaga ang responsibilidad ng isang eskwelahan under that ‘loco parentis’ doctrine. Is it not the responsibility of educational institutions under RA 11053 to exercise reasonable supervision in loco parentis over the conduct of students?” said Tolentino.

“The line is murky in so far as school-based and organization-based or community-based. But the venue is still in far-flung barangays, yung walang nakakarinig, walang nakakakita,” he added.