Solon wants hazing declared as heinous crime in certain circumstances

(Eagle News)–A congressman has filed a resolution seeking to declare hazing as a heinous crime in certain circumstances.

Under House Bill No. 4922, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wants  hazing to be considered a heinous crime if “death, rape, sodomy or mutilation” result from it.

Rodriguez noted these deaths were  “grievous, odious and hateful offenses and which, by reason  of their inherent or manifest wickedness, viciousness, atrocity, and perversity, are repugnant and outrageous to the common standards and norms of decency and morality in a just, civilized and ordered society.”

He noted that since 1954, the year the first hazing victim was reported, there have been at least 30 deaths due to hazing.

“The victims had bright futures ahead of them. However, due to ‘barbaric traditions,’ lives were unnecessarily taken,” he said.

The filing of the bill comes following recent reports  of at least two hazing incidents.

Philippine Military Academy Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio died on Sept. 18  due to internal injuries sustained from hazing.

The University of the Philippines has also placed under probe several student leaders following screenshots of a conversation that supposedly revealed they engaged in hazing.