Anti-hazing bill hurdles House

FILE: The House approved on Monday night House Bill No. 6753, or the Anti-Hazing Act, with 210 affirmative votes, zero negative, and no abstention. (Photo: House of Representatives of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The House of Representatives has unanimously approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to prohibit all forms of hazing and regulate the initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and other organizations.

The House approved on Monday night House Bill No. 6753, or the Anti-Hazing Act, with 210 affirmative votes, zero negative, and no abstention.

Bagong Henerasyon Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, principal author of the bill, said the bill made all forms of hazing illegal, instead of just regulating hazing, with penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment.

The bill seeks to increase the penalty from 20 years imprisonment to life if death, suicide, rape, sodomy or mutilation results from hazing.

It also mandates a four-hour hazing education course as an additional condition for any sentence, which may also include alcohol and drug probation.

The bill expands the definition of hazing to cover psychological injuries in addition to physical suffering, as well as beyond just incidences related to gaining membership in an organization.

It likewise provided the definition of “initiation” and “initiation rites,” which were not included in the current law.

Herrera-Dy also highlighted that community-based fraternities, sororities, and organizations be covered under the proposed law.

School-based fraternities, sororities and organizations will be required to register with school authorities, while community-based organizations will likewise be required to register with their respective local government units.

The solon said the initiation rites of fraternities, sororities, and organizations should be monitored to “see to it that no hazing is conducted.” (PNA)