Catholic prelate to students: Forget plan of joining fraternity or sorority group

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MANILA — A Catholic prelate has reminded students who are planning to be part of a fraternity or sorority group to forget the idea, particularly if the organization they are considering to join requires initiation rites by inflicting physical pain on them.

“We are appealing to students who are maybe planning to join such groups, not to go through with it as they might become the next victim of hazing,” said San Jose, Nueva Ecija Bishop Roberto Mallari in an interview.

Last weekend, an 18-year-old student from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde died while three others sustained injuries from a supposed hazing incident.

The prelate noted that the recent incident and what happened to the other victims of hazing should serve as a lesson to all.

“This should serve as a lesson to all. That’s why everyone, especially the youth, should go against all forms of hazing in fraternities,” Mallari said.

With this, he asked fraternity groups which promote violence to reevaluate the purpose of their organization.

“Why do you need to subject them to such test? What is your purpose for doing that? What do they really want? Maybe they should review what their group’s mission and vision is,” the bishop added.

Republic Act No. 8049 prohibits hazing or initiation rites in any form by a fraternity, sorority, or organization without prior notice to school authorities and that no physical violence must be employed by anybody during the initiation rites.