House panel OKs substitute bill for revised Anti-Hazing Law

The House justice committee  on Wednesday approved the substitute bill seeking to amend the existing Anti-Hazing Law.

During the hearing, the House panel endorsed for plenary the substitute bill for House Bill 3467, or the proposed "Revised Anti-Hazing Law" principally-authored by Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera-Dy, with certain amendments.

The measure seeks to prohibit hazing and regulate all other forms of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and organizations and provide penalties for them, to repeal Republic Act 8049, or the "Anti-Hazing Law."

Among the salient features of the substitute bill is the total ban of all forms of hazing during the course of initiation rites and that only initiation rites that do not inflict direct or direct physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury to the neophyte will be allowed with compliance to certain requirements.

House Justice Committee discusses substitute bill on revised Anti-Hazing Law. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/WsUyhVHvoe

— Erwin Colcol (@erwincolcol) September 27, 2017

School-based fraternities, sororities and other organizations will likewise be required to register with proper school authorities before they conduct activities. They will also be assigned with a faculty adviser to monitor their activities.

Aside from this, all new community-based organizations will also be required to register with their respective local government units.

During the panel hearing, Kabayan party-list Representative Harry Roque moved to amend the penalties for violators of the bill, from the initial 20 to 40 years of imprisonment to reclusion perpetua.

"My proposed amendment, if it results in death, rape, sodomy or mutilation, should be reclusion perpetua," Roque said.

Herrera-Dy, however, pointed out that those who will possibly be punished under the bill are only students who may still have "a future ahead" of them.

"Hindi naman nila intention na patayin yung student. It wasn't intentional, it wasn't pre-meditated. Matinding pagkakamali, pero meron pa rin siyang kinabukasan na pwedeng ayusin," she said.

Herrera-Dy also said it is better to leave to the courts the decision on the length of jail term imposed upon the violators.

After deliberation, the committee approved the proposal to amend the penalty of jail term to 20 years and one day to life imprisonment and a fine of P1 million.

Aside from this, Quezon City Representative Winston Castelo moved to penalize participants who joined the act of hazing itself, whether or not the incident resulted in physical or psychological harm.

"What is stated here (in the substitute bill) is there will only be penalty crossed if there is death or injury. Hindi lamang po kapag may injury or death, the act itself should be penalized, whether there is injury or not," Castelo said.

Following the suggestion, the committee decided to put a penalty of reclusion temporal imposed upon participating officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization involved in the hazing.

In an ambush interview with reporters, Herrera-Dy said they are targeting to have the bill approved on third and final reading before the House adjourns session this October.

Herrera-Dy is optimistic that because of the death of Horacio "Atio" Castillo III allegedly due to fraternity hazing, their timeline would be followed.

"Mas lalo nating binigyang-diin at pansin ito dahil sa nangyari last week kay Horacio," she said.

Castillo died of massive heart attack possibly due to the injuries he suffered after alleged hazing rites.

Castelo has already filed a resolution seeking investigation into the death of Castillo, with the goal to also amend the defects of the Anti-Hazing Law. — RSJ/KVD, GMA News