BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA AND RUBY SILUBRICO
BACOLOD City – Police units across the region must keep an eye on groups of youngsters in their areas, according to Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
“Mga kabataan kasi mahilig mag grupo-grupo at mag-create ng gang,” said Miranda.
In Barangay Guintorilan, San Enrique, Negros Occidental, an 18-year-old lad died of reported hazing.
The victim, whose name is being withheld by the police, was a Grade 10 student of Doña Hortencia Salas Benedicto National High School in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.
Based on the information released by the San Enrique municipal police station, the victim’s parents went to their station around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 9 to report that their son had been a victim of hazing.
According to the mother, her son was repeatedly hit with a paddle by three fraternity members.
She also noticed her son limping for several days and by Sept. 8, he started feeling unwell.
The teenager died around 6 a.m. of Sept. 9 while being treated at a hospital.
A post mortem examination was conducted.
Based on an autopsy report by the Municipal Health Officer Dr. Fritzi Juanillo, the victim suffered hematoma on both of his lower buttocks.
Investigators, meanwhile, revealed that unknown to the parents, their son was recruited into a fraternity in March this year.
Police added they already have several persons of interest.
“Our police chiefs dapat ma-monitor nila ang mga kabataan kasi pandemic ngayon. Walang magawa kundi mag grupo-grupo,” Miranda said.
Local police should intensify their barangay intelligence network (BIN) to get information from the community about unauthorized activities, he added.
“I warn individuals who are holding hazing… It is prohibited because we have an anti-hazing law. Maaari kayong ma-arrest at mabilanggo,” Miranda said.
Those responsible for hazing would be liable for violation of Republic Act 11053, which prohibits hazing and other forms of initiation rites of fraternities, sororities and other organizations.
On the other hand, Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office spokesperson, Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco said they have already talked with the victim’s parents.
She said the hazing most likely took place around 10 p.m. on Sept. 3 during the victim’s birthday.
Donasco said they are currently investigating how the hazing was carried out, pointing out that it was during curfew hours.
Hazing is an initiation rite or practice as a prerequisite for admission into membership in a fraternity, sorority or organization by placing the recruit, neophyte or applicant in some embarrassing or humiliating situations such as forcing him to do menial, silly, foolish and other similar tasks or activities or otherwise subjecting him to physical or psychological suffering or injury.
The penalty of reclusion is temporal in its maximum period from 17 to 20 years if in consequence of the hazing the victim shall become insane, imbecile, impotent or blind or dead./PN
