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Dave Achondo

WHAT happened with the Aegis Juris fraternity that killed a new recruit during an alleged hazing is getting out of hand to the point that lawmakers are now planning to strengthen the Anti-Hazing law which, by the way, would prove futile because some fraternities simply practice hazing rites secretly.

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What bothered me the most is that while the law is still in place, many of the reported deaths due to hazings since 2000 did not lead to justice for the victim’s families.

Over two decades since its passage (1991), there has only been one conviction for hazing. In 2015, the Supreme Court found two Alpha Phi Omega members guilty of violating the law for the death of University of the Philippines-Los Baños student Marlon Villanueva in 2006.

This country has too many laws already, and some of it are not even being enforced.

Is there a quota that compels lawmakers to pass and amend a law during their term? Anyway, why amend it if the government itself won’t even enforce it in the first place. Doesn’t it defeat the purpose of strengthening it? It renders the amendment done useless. Even simple ordinances in this city can’t even be upheld what more those passed by Congress.

Take for instance the people frequenting the rotunda here. They turn the area into a racetrack in the wee hours, and that ordinance that prevents anyone drinking in the same vicinity. What has been done? Nothing.

The facilitators of the hazing rites that took the life of Horacio Tomas Castillo III are nowhere to be found. They are a bunch of cowards themselves–they can’t even follow their fraternity’s by laws, and one of them even fled to the United States with his mommy days after the incident. On top of that, I thought that as “brothers,” they would always be there for their fellow member. Instead, they pretty much betrayed their very own and left him alone. So sad.

I joined a fraternity years ago and was subjected to rites that test physical and mental strength. It did not prove that I was the bravest, strongest and even the toughest. It only showed me that I was alone. Being in a fraternity was fun and all but at the end of the day, you would still see yourself facing the challenges of life alone. But I admit that I have met quite remarkable people in my fraternity the type that you can consider as your true friends.

To college students or even those in the secondary level, if you plan on joining a fraternity because you are to afraid to stand up for yourself… well, if that is your reason, you really don’t belong in one. Instead, join a martial arts club that teaches you values and restrain. A fraternity is not a place to remedy your low self-esteem.

I am undoubtedly against hazing. It shouldn’t even be necessary to show your loyalty. Does one really have to go through painful ordeals just to be considered worthy to be called a brother?

Fraternities should create positive impact, not harm neophytes.

I know some well-known fraternities are still practicing hazing in secret despite the Anti-Hazing Law. I suggest they stop that “tradition” before someone gets killed again.

There are plenty of positive results when you enter the right fraternity but some people can’t understand why they joined one in the first place. If it’s connections you want, protection or friends, there are plenty of ways to go about it without a fraternity.

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