On the issue of hazing
There have been varied reactions to the Open Letter and articles published about hazing and the Aquila Legis Fraternity of Ateneo Law School. These reactions vary from support, complacency, and outright rejection.
The open letter was addressed to Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Manila University and was also published in the Opinion Column of Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 11. His response is published in the right column. So far, all that has happened was the reading of my letter by the dean in front of students of the law school in Manila.
The president of the Ateneo Alumni Assn of California wrote me a letter in support of my advocacy. It is not surprising that members of the said fraternity has rendered a passive reaction. The perpetrators of the initiation rites should have been reminded that their actions were against the law, in particular, a violation of Republic Act 8049.
Surprisingly, blood relatives of one of the victims reacted violently and went to the extent of asking me to stop writing about the topic.
As a practicing journalist, I am not at all intimidated. I still adhere to the unwritten dogma of “no fear, no favour.”
What happens to neophytes during initiation?
Many years ago, while on board a passenger bus from my hometown in Cavite City, I noticed a group of young men carrying paddles. The wooden instruments were pretty much like cricket bats. The fraternity has remained unidentified, although there was an ‘omega’ logo in the paddle.
Not long after, the head of the group forced open the mouth of a neophyte. He rammed into his throat a handful of fresh red-hot chilli. The burning sensation caused him to vomit but the sadistic “master” forced him to swallow some more. That left the poor guy howling in tears.
Not satisfied with the torment, the leader of the group asked another neophyte to bend over while exposing his bare bottom. Upon compliance, he smacked his butt several times until it was black and blue, almost bleeding from the punishment.
Circa 1972. The following incident happened inside the cafeteria of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Padre Faura Campus in Manila. I was then taking night classes for my MBA. The same building was being shared with students of law.
All of a sudden, I noticed soft drink bottles flying. These were glass bottles as plastic bottles were not yet in use. I found out that there was a fight going on between rival fraternities Utopia and Aquila Legis. Windows were smashed and broken glass were scattered all over the floor. Some car windshields were not spared and I had to leave immediately to avoid being involved. I asked myself: “Is this the kind of behaviour expected of future lawyers?” Small wonder, we now have the likes of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona who is a product of Ateneo Law School.
An investigation of the death of Ateneo law student Lenny Villa in 1991 revealed that fraternity masters were drunk during the hazing of neophytes. It is apparent that fraternity members use intoxication as a mitigating circumstance for their guilt.
The fact remains that hazing is against the law and schools must put more teeth into the enforcement of Republic Act 8049.
So what’s your next move, Fr. Jett Villarin? — Dino Crescini
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