NYC denounces hazing

Wednesday 1st of August 2012

MANILA, August 1 -- The National Youth Commission (NYC), the lead government agency on youth development, strongly condemned the recent hazing incident in San Beda College of Law where a first-year law student was brought to the DLSU Medical Center in Dasmariñas, Cavite and died Monday from alleged hazing injuries.

“Let us call a stop to this cycle of violence and impunity at the level of the academe. Let’s take the San Beda Administration to task on the actions they were supposed to have undertaken after the February incident." Usec. Leon Flores III said in a press statement.

"It is not enough that school administrations await the results of criminal and administrative cases filed. The full force of the law should be applied to the perpetrators. However, the bigger key is that preventive steps are undertaken by schools to meaningfully engage the frats and orgs to achieve hazing-free schools and communities." Chairman Flores adds.

Hazing is an initiation rite or practice as a prerequisite for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing or humiliating situations.

Pursuant to Sec. 4 of Republic Act No. 8049, popularly known as Anti-Hazing Law “If the person subjected to hazing or other forms of initiation rites suffers any physical injury or dies as a result thereof, the officers and members of the fraternity, sorority or organization who actually participated in the infliction of physical harm shall be liable as principals. The person or persons who participated in the hazing shall suffer.”

“This is really disturbing. Marc Andrei Marcos is the second law student from San Beda that has been a victim of hazing this year. It was only last February that Marvin Reglos suffered the same fate,” said Asec. Georgina Nava, the Commissioner representing Luzon.

Both Reglos and Marcos were freshmen law students in San Beda. Coincidentally, they both finished their undergraduate degrees at the University of Santo Tomas.

“Being a Thomasian myself, I sympathize with the families of the victims. At the same time, we call to immediate action all authorities concerned. Let us not wait for another dead victim to surface before we put an end to this,” added Asec. Nava.(NYC)