Ex-Senator calls for end to hazing, violence in campus
by Marc dela Paz
A former senator calls an end to the deadly tradition of hazing and bring justice to the numerous deaths of students in the past due to fraternity initiations.
“Para sa kinabukasan ng mga kabataang estudyante, itigil na ang hazing,” said Joey Lina in a forum titled “Initiation Rights: Culture of Violence in the Promise of Brotherhood” last Friday, Sept. 29.
“Wakasan ang hazing, hulihin ang may kagagawan ng kamatayan ni Atio, sampahan agad ng kaso, litisin ito hanggang sa maparusahan ng habang buhay ang mga tao na may kagagawan ng kanyang pagkamatay,” he added.
Lina admitted that there are fraternities which believe that a person should go through pain or suffering as a requirement to prove loyalty and commitment to the organization.
“And of course, that belief is entirely false,” he said.
Lina, who was a victim of hazing, authored the Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law of 1995 that regulates the act of hazing and penalizes violence in practices.
He said that the help of the community and other authorities are needed for the law to be effective.
Lina also said that the Supreme Court has examined the provisions of the law and concluded that the law is strong enough to stand against the crime of hazing.
“There is no harm in further strengthening the law. I have no franchise to this law, but I think the totality of the law is strong,” he said.
He urged the students the need of awareness around them and the duty of the authorities to properly execute investigations.
“If all these pillars, it’s called pillars of the criminal justice system, if they all operate, they become efficient, [and] then the law will be effectively implemented.” Lina said.
Lina, who is also an alumnus of the University, reminded his fellow Thomasians of the sanctity of the human body as the temple of God and that it must be free of any harm.
“The human body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. That’s why the human body must be free from any infliction of any physical injury, psychological harm or suffering for God resides in our human body.”
