Death by hazing is beyond ridiculous

The deaths of John Matthew Salilig, an Adamson University chemistry junior last February 18, 2023 and Ronnel Baquio, a second year maritime student in Cebu last December 2022, from the hands of their Tau Gamma Phi fraternity initiators are open calls for the government, authorities and school administrations to initiate an intensive policy review governing fraternities and sororities.

Suspending or nullifying the accreditation and registration of Tau Gamma and all other fraternities will never resolve the problem as they can still recruit outside the school and there are no laws prohibiting any individual from joining such “brotherhood organizations” and declaring them illegal organizations.

It does not resolve or dwell on the problem straight to its face thus it will only result to more difficult scenarios and concerns in case another death arises. The prevailing problem among these organizations is their practice of hazing. They call it a welcome rites.

An Anti-Hazing Law has been enacted to prevent them from doing such however its implementation has been hampered by the usual lame police investigation that results to dismissal of cases filed against the perpetrators and the protection provided by the “brothers” of the suspects who occupy positions in the government.

A deterrent provided by law is more than enough but it is also common in the country that an intensive case build-up is only done when the victim involved has a name or money. Victims of hazing from rural areas are left crying for justice. The case of Ronnel Baguio is an example. If not for the death of his “brother” John Matthew Salilig, the authorities in Cebu would not have provided preferential attention to his case.

Imagine several dreams and plans are shattered each time a neophyte dies from a fraternity’s initiation rites. Clearly, ones intention in joining a “brotherhood organization” is camaraderie and a sense of belongingness. Unfortunately, the same brotherhood caused their death.

A policy review on these organizations that involves themselves can be a proactive action in order to stop the practice of this senseless hazing. Fraternities and sororities should be required to provide the government and school authorities a complete list of their members. The Anti-Hazing Law should be amended so as to include the name of all active members in the charge sheet of murder in case of a death due to hazing. Afterall, given the practice of hazing, all members have experienced it and are aware of it. Knowledge of a crime and purposely not doing anything to prevent it is a crime by itself.

The authorities should also look into the angle of including the Board of Advisers and national officials of these organizations in the charge sheet of murder. It is a given that the they are fully aware of the practices of their organizations.