Intoxication, presence of alumni may ‘aggravate’ hazing

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

MEMBERS of fraternity who are under influence of alcohol and the participation of alumni in initiation rites could have pushed the occurrence of violence that led to the deaths of some young men.

The Supreme Court (SC) pointed this out in its decision on the case involving the hazing of Leonardo "Lenny" Villa, a freshman law student at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), in February 1991.

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In a 68-page decision penned by Associate Justice Lourdes Sereno, the SC noted that fraternity members were intoxicated during Villa's initiation rites in Caloocan while some alumni also took part.

As a result, the High Court sought the amendment of the Anti-Hazing Law to "include the fact of intoxication and the presence of non-resident or alumni fraternity members during hazing as aggravating circumstances that would increase the applicable penalties."

"It is truly astonishing how men would wittingly – or unwittingly –impose the misery of hazing and employ appalling rituals in the name of brotherhood. There must be a better way to establish kinship," the decision read.

Apparently, the court said Villa had consented to the initiation ritual of the Aquila Legis Juris fraternity because he asked his parents for permission to join.

"By giving consent under the circumstances, they left their fates in the hands of the fraternity members. Unfortunately, the hands to which lives were entrusted were barbaric as they were reckless," the decision stated.

Testimonies of the co-neophytes of Villa show that they were punched, kicked, elbowed, kneed, and hit with different objects on their arms, legs, and thighs. They were also paddled at the back of their thighs or legs and slapped on their faces.

Four Aquila members Fidelito Dizon, Antonio Mariano Almeda, Junel Anthony Ama, Renato Bantug, Jr. and Vincent Tecson were found guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide.

In a related development, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered an investigation on the hazing-related death of a student from San Beda College.

Marvin Reglos, 25, reportedly died last Sunday due to injuries sustained from the initiation rites of the Lambda Rho Beta Fraternity, an ally of Lambda Rho Sigma Sorority, which de Lima co-founded in 1984.

"I have ordered the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) to investigate (through its death investigation division) since I was able to talk to the sister of the victim. She texted me earlier and she is seeking the help of the DOJ and the NBI," the Justice chief told reporters.

De Lima also conferred the matter to Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo -- whose department controls the Philippine National Police (PNP) -- to look into the case.

"It's very alarming on my part that the fraternity involved is allied with the sorority I am part of, but I would really want to know the truth on the personalities involved and bring them to the bar of justice," she said.

The problem of fraternity-related violence has been a perennial problem in the Philippines considering many fraternities, which are present in most colleges and universities, are engaged in hazing activities and brawls between rival groups.

There has also been a problem of hazing among police and Army officers with the release of videos of such activities to the public. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)