SENATOR Francis Tolentino endorsed for plenary discussions the recommendations of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights in amending Republic Act 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018.

After two committee hearings on the death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig due to hazing by the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity last February, Tolentino came up with two bills and several recommendations to finally put an end to hazing.

The senator said an impasse on conflicting rules in the implementation of anti-hazing law was encountered during the hearings. Lawmakers argued on whether schools should be allowed to ban fraternities outright or should they be made to adopt a policy that will not ban fraternities but make participation and involvement in hazing as the ground for possible dismissal or expulsion.

“This committee is of the position that the better policy for schools to adopt is not to ban fraternities in school premises, but rather to allow them to be registered for purposes of monitoring and supervision and make participation and involvement in hazing as a ground for possible dismissal or expulsion of a student,” Tolentino said.

Meanwhile, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva backed the recommendation of the committee to impose a graver penalty on fraternities and groups involved in the hazing of its members.

One of the recommendations was the automatic cancellation of the group’s Securities and Exchange Commission Certificate of Incorporation and correspondingly a ground for the group’s consideration as an illegal organization.

“We agree that beyond the individuals involved in hazing, fraternities and sororities must be held responsible for allowing and encouraging this kind of violent practices. As such, we support the recommendations of the committee toward eliminating this culture of violence once and for all,” Zubiri said.

Villanueva reminded everyone that the strength of the ties of brotherhood or sisterhood or any organization is and cannot be measured by violence.

“This representation is also member of Tau Gamma Phi. We never asked any favor or meddle with the members and the committee report as submitted to this august chamber. I would say it again: words are not enough to express the anger we felt to what happened to our dear brother, John Matthew Salilig and his family. He is a brother, he is already a member of Tau Gamma Phi. Ito po ay welcoming rites lang, kaya wala pong kapatawaran ang pagpaslang sa kanyang buhay,” Villanueva said.

He added that education institutions need to take a more proactive role in ensuring that the objectives of the Anti-Hazing Law will be met.