The recent scandal that rocked the Philippine National Police Academy would be a test case for new Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, according to Senator Panfilo Lacson, a former chief of the national police.
The scandal, which allegedly involved cadets forcing freshmen to perform oral sex as a form of punishment, is considered hazing under the new law, he said.
“In this case, the cadets involved may have the distinction of being the first to be convicted under the new law,” Lacson said.
Hazing is now considered a no-bail capital offense, with those found guilty facing life imprisonment.
Lacson sponsored the new law in the Senate after his committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs probed the fatal hazing of law student Horacio Castillo III.
President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure into law last June 29.
Lacson said those involved in hazing risk losing the prime of their lives under the strengthened anti-hazing law.
Under the new law, the definition of hazing has been expanded to include “physical or psychological suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, member, neophyte, or applicant” as a prerequisite for admission or for continued membership in an organization.
Banned under the law are “all forms of hazing” not only in fraternities, sororities or organizations in schools, but also those in communities and even businesses and uniformed service learning institutions.
Liabilities include:
• penalty of reclusion temporal and P1 million on the participating officer and members of the fraternity who were involved in the hazing
• reclusion perpetua and P2 million on members who actually participated in hazing when under the influence of alcohol or drugs; and on non-resident or alumni who participate in hazing
• reclusion perpetua and P3 million on those who participated in hazing that resulted in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation
• P1 million on the school if it approved an initiation of a fraternity, sorority or organization where hazing occurred
• prision correccional (six months to six years) on anyone who intimidates or threatens another for recruitment. This includes “persistent and repeated” proposals or invitations to those who refused to join at least twice.
• P1 million for former officers or alumni who try to hide or obstruct the investigation.