SENATOR Nancy Binay fears that the return of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps in schools could lead to hazing activities.

Binay made the statement following the hazing death of Adamson student John Matthew Salilig.

The senator noted that even with Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act in place, hazing activities continue.

“Wala na ba talaga tayong takot o guilt na manakit ng kapwa (Are we really no longer afraid or guilty of hurting others)?” Binay said.

“Until now, kahit meron nang RA 11053, naririyan pa rin ang vicious cycle of physical abuse, at ibang forms of abuse—tapos ngayon, gusto uli nating ibalik ang ROTC na kilala sa ganyang practices,” she added.

The senator said that schools should be safe spaces for students.

“But sadly, schools, administrators and even law enforcement agencies fail to seriously check and monitor organizations na patuloy pa rin sa tradisyunal na initiation rites,” the senator lamented.

Binay extended her condolences to the family of the slain student.

“Kaisa ako sa nanawagan ng hustisya para kay John Matthew — and those who participated in the violent act must be held fully accountable,” Binay said.

“Bilang isang magulang, ramdam ko ang kirot na pinagdadaanan ng pamilya Salilig. Lagi kong sinasabi na (As a parent, I can feel the anguish the Salilig family is going through right now. I always say that) hazing has laid claim to many senseless deaths—not to mention the perpetual and unimaginable pain that families of victims go through,” she said.

Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, chairperson of the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, Technical and Vocational Education, said the panel is ready to come up with a committee report endorsing the reimplementation of the ROTC program in first and second year students in tertiary education.

Meanwhile, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said lawmakers must include specific provisions in the proposed law to make sure that no hazing activities will happen in the course of the trainings.

“We will not tolerate hazing in ROTC. There’s no place for hazing in ROTC. Hindi naman ito tulad ng frat,” he said.