Duterte says hazing cannot be eliminated unless fraternities are banned

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech during the 69th National Executive Board Meeting of the League of Cities of the Philippines at the DusitD2 Davao Hotel in Davao City on September 27, 2019. ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Despite signing Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 1, admitted that it is impossible to get rid of violent initiation rites in the country.

“Hindi mo talaga matanggal ‘yan (You cannot eliminate that). Unless you ban fraternity for all time. Make it a criminal offense by joining a fraternity. But that would raise so many constitutional issues. Hindi mo talaga mapigilan ‘yan (You cannot stop it),” he said before leaving for his trip to Russia.

Duterte issued his statement after a 20-year-old Philippine Military Academy (PMA) cadet died due to an alleged hazing last month. The death of Darwin Dormitorio sparked outrage from the public and led to the resignation of the PMA’s head, Lieutenant General Ronnie Evangelista, as well as the commandant of cadets, Brigadier General Bartolome Bacarro.

During his speech, Duterte shared that he himself went through violent initiation rites, saying he was “hospitalized for three days” due to “massive hematoma.”

Duterte is a member of Lex Talionis Fraternitas, a fraternity based at the San Beda College of Law. The President said he and some fellow frat brothers asked their fraternity “to do away with the physical” but did not work.

The Chief Executive believes that such rites in fraternities should not go too far to the point that it would claim someone’s life.

“Ang tingin mo pagka ma-brod mo na, anong tingin mo sa kanya? Anong tingin niya sa iyo (If you are brods already, what do you think of him? What does he think about you)? That will create a lifetime animosity,” he said.

“‘Yang tamang-tama lang. ‘Yang ‘pag madala sa ospital, mabuhay. ‘Wag naman ‘yung mamatay (Just enough. That he should still be alive when brought to the hospital and should not lead to his death),” he continued.

Regarding the case of Dormitorio, the President said he would await results of the investigation by authorities.

“Patapusin mo muna (Let them finish first),” he said.

“‘Wag mo akong tanungin kasi (Do not ask me because) eventually the administrative case pupunta ‘yan sa akin (will reach me) for final. Kung mag-reconsider (If there will be a) — motion for reconsideration, the final appeal administratively is to the Commander-in-Chief, ako (me). So prudent would say or demand that I’ll just keep it to myself,” he added.

In 2018, Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11053 which prohibits all forms of hazing in fraternities, sororities, and organizations in schools, including citizens’ military training and citizens’ army training.

The prohibition also applies to non-school based fraternities, sororities, and organizations.

The law was signed after the death by hazing of University of Santo Tomas (UST) law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in 2017.