A bill seeking to impose a fine of one million pesos for universities and colleges involved in hazing has been filed in the Senate.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian submitted Senate Bill 199 following the Senate investigation into the fatal hazing of University of Santo Tomas law student Horacio Castillo III last September 17.
Gatchalian said schools must be held responsible for the hazing activities staged by their students.
He noted that the elder members of the Aegis Juris fraternity's immediate reaction to the death of Castillo was to find a way to cover up the incident.
The senator said UST's Office of Student Affairs assigned a representative to monitor the activities of the fraternity but over the years, there had been no report that hazing activities were taking place.
The bill also recommends a prison term of 12 to 20 years for individuals involved in the cover-up.
