MANILA — The Tau Gamma Phi fraternity did not secure a permit from Adamson University when it conducted the initiation rites that took the life of chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig through hazing.
Daniel Perry, the “master initiator” of the fraternity’s Adamson chapter, was asked by Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on Tuesday if they knew they were violating the law when they proceeded with the hazing.
“Opo (Yes),” he said during a hearing on Tuesday by the Senate committees on justice and human rights, and public order and dangerous drugs on Salilig’s death.
Perry had been the master initiator for three Tau Gamma Phi initiation rites, but said the fraternity did not seek permission from Adamson for holding such activities.
He also noted that they were not aware that securing a permit was necessary to conduct the welcoming rites.
Dela Rosa further prodded if Tau Gamma Phi was registered as an organization in Adamson, which Perry responded to by shaking his head.
“So tama iyong sinasabi ni Senator Raffy Tulfo na bigyan natin ng mas mabigat na penalty, kung pwedeng reclusion perpetua, pati iyong school administrator kung nagpapabaya sila dahil namamatay ang mga bata,” dela Rosa fumed.
Dela Rosa also cited the loco parentis principle, where parents give parental authority to school officials to control their children for latter’s best interest.
Earlier, Tulfo said he would push for amendments in the Anti-Hazing Act to give more teeth to the law and hold the owners of venues where hazing in initiation rites are conducted to be held liable as an accomplice, especially if they had knowledge of the hazing but failed to take action to prevent similar incidents.
Not recognized, not covered by school policies
Lawyer Jan Nelin Navallasca, director of Adamson’s Office for Student Affairs, on Tuesday said Tau Gamma Phi is “not recognized” as an organization in the school.
“In other words, their activities are not covered by our policies,” he told senators during the chamber’s panel hearing on the fraternity-related death by hazing of Adamson chemical engineering student John Matthew Salilig.
Navallasca said there are only three fraternities–Doctus, Knights and Falconis–recognized by Adamson under its College of Law. He also noted that they are cognizant about the existence of other fraternities but “do not know them personally.”
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, however, slammed the school policy of not recognizing other fraternities in their campus, saying this is “tantamount to saying they don’t care about these fraternities.”
“Alam pala ninyo na meron niyan, bakit hindi niyo ni-regulate? Ibig sabihin, naghuhugas-kamay lang kayo,” he pressed.
Dela Rosa also cited the loco parentis principle, where parents give parental authority to school officials to control their children for latter’s best interest.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo further grilled the school for not identifying and summoning fraternity leaders and members to let them know of outlawed activities like hazing and harassment, among others.
“Alam mo nga na it exists pero sabi mo, hindi recognized. You should have done something. Ibig sabihin, i-n-u-t-i-l ka,” he added.
But Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities legal counsel Anna Maria Abad argued that they were acting on such issues by conducting orientations about school policies and regulations every semester.
“Pasensya na, established iyan na may ginagawa kayo pero kulang pa rin kasi may namatay,” Dela Rosa said.
He then broached the idea of creating a policy that would expel students who insist on forming fraternities in the school.
But Abad said they have to “tread a delicate balance” since it remains a constitutional right for people to form associations. (Beatrice Pinlac © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
