Senator condemns hazing death of Grade 11 student in Nueva Ecija

Manila: Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday condemned the hazing death of an 18-year-old student in Jaen, Nueva Ecija, calling it a heartbreaking tragedy and a reminder of the urgent need to end hazing. In a statement, Zubiri said hazing is a crime and those who participate in or enable it must face the full force of the law. "We must put an end to this senseless violence. Fraternities and organizations that allow or promote hazing must be held accountable," he said. Police authorities said the victim, Ren Joseph Bayan, died Sunday during his final initiation rites by members of the Tau-Gamma Phi fraternity. Zubiri, who authored and sponsored the Republic Act No. 11053 or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, said fraternities that promote hazing must be held accountable, adding that violence and abuse by these organizations cannot be tolerated. He called on authorities to swiftly arrest and prosecute those responsible for Bayan's death. "We can no longer tolerate and protect these fraternities that couch thei r violence and abuse in the guise of brotherhood. We need to put these suspects behind bars and show these fraternities that their days of violence are over," he said. In a public hearing on hazing last year, Zubiri suggested that students should disclose their fraternity affiliations to enable schools to penalize them for unlawful activities such as hazing. He said this would help schools monitor students when necessary and prevent or address unlawful activities within educational institutions. Other senators also urged schools to formulate initiatives that would discourage students, especially members of fraternities and sororities, from conducting hazing. Source: Philippines News Agency