Senator renews call for new anti-hazing law

Senator renews call for new anti-hazing law (Photo Senator Win Gatchalian/Facebook)

MANILA—In wake of a recent hazing incident in a university in Manila which injured a student, Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian on Friday renewed his call to pass an upgraded anti-hazing measure.

Gatchalian, principal author of Senate Bill No. 199 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2016, said the hazing incident was “troubling” because the victim allegedly underwent hazing against her will after being forced to join a sorority.

If passed into law, Gatchalian’s bill would repeal and replace Republic Act No. 8049, the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995.

“Hazing has absolutely no place in modern society. We must replace the 20-year-old law by passing a new one with more teeth to bring offenders to justice,” Gatchalian said.

The neophyte senator stressed that “violent” youth who subject their fellow students to such treatment should be punished to the full extent of the law.

He further said that the law should provide zero tolerance for hazing in any school, community, or organization.

Reports showed that an 18-year-old student from the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) was rushed to the hospital this week for injuries sustained from physical and mental abuse suffered at the hands of alleged members of a sorority unofficially affiliated with the school.

The incident happened January 7 in an abandoned house in Las Pinas.

At present, the victim is recuperating in the hospital.