Legarda: Amend Anti-Hazing Law to Increase Awareness and Accountability

“HAZING HAS LAID CLAIM TO MANY LIVES, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNLESS WE TAKE CONCERTED ACTION,” SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA SAID TODAY IN A PRIVILEGE SPEECH WHERE SHE CALLED TO AMEND RA 8049 OR THE ANTI-HAZING LAW.
“These tragic, untimely deaths prove that hazing remains a serious problem in fraternities, sororities, and other organizations in the country. The Anti-Hazing Law in its current incarnation is evidently not enough,” she explained.
“We are called upon by the Filipino people to act on these tragedies. Let us advocate heightened awareness and participation among all stakeholders, and reestablish accountability among fraternities, sororities, organizations, and administrators of universities and colleges alike,” she emphasized.
She suggested that careful research should be conducted on effective administrative practices to regulate fraternities, sororities, and organizations should be conducted.
“Banning these student endeavors will only result in driving them underground, making it harder for them to be monitored. Alternatives should be sought and implemented immediately,” she added.
Legarda, expressing indignation over the recent hazing-related death of San Beda College of Law freshman Mark Andre Marcos, also reiterated her call to ensure that perpetrators of hazing are held accountable.
“There is a need to revisit the current policy of regulation under the Anti-Hazing Law given its failure to deter violence and the apparent audacity by which these fraternities and sororities and their officers and members perpetrate violence without regard to the existing mandate of the law,” she concluded.