Hazing—in schools, universities, academies and the armed organizations—should be stopped completely, through a law that would criminalize this act and outlaw the practice. Short of this we would only expect a recurrence of such barbarism and violence and the bullies or perpetrators going roaming freely waiting for their next victims.
Hazing has been practiced in training programs of the police and even the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for decades now – and yet no law has been passed to criminalize it, even if it had led to deaths and permanent disability to those with whom such torture or barbarism has been meted.
Even the lawmakers – from several congresses ago – could not muster enough votes to pass it into a law, which makes people wonder who the sacred cows these lawmakers are protecting once the law is passed and cases can be filed against the perpetrators.
The replacement today by Police General Guillermo Eleazar by P/MGen Alex Sampaga as the new director of the Philippine National Police Academy, effective September 29 could hopefully lead to a thorough investigation and filing of criminal and administrative charges (and seeing to it that the case is completely resolved).
But until then, nothing much can be expected from the changing of the guards.
The change of leadership at the PNPA came amid investigation into death of Cadet 3rd Class George Magsayo.
Reports said that on September 23, Magsayo’s upperclassman, Cadet Second Class Steve Ceasar Maingat, "punched him at least five times" which caused Magsayo to collapse. Magsayo was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Recurring episodes of hazing
Rep. Lawrence Fortun of Agusan del Norte was right about saying that hazing is a recurring episode. Fortun said:
“Heto na naman tayo! Kailan lang namatay si PMMA Cadet Jonash Bondoc, at ngayon isa na namang nasayang na buhay dahil sa posibleng hazing,” Fortun said in a statement.
“Let this case be prematurely and irregularly declared closed like what PNP Zambales did in the case of the late PMMA cadet, NBI should now intervene in the investigation,” he added.
He said the National Bureau of Investigation should make the necessary intervention to ensure a comprehensive, fair and impartial investigation of this killing incident at the Philippine National Police Academy.
The NBI must secure the crime scene and interview cadets and officials soonest “because each day that passes can mean loss of evidence.”
The National Police Commission should also come in for the administrative proceedings to ensure that should this be a case of violation of the Anti-Hazing Law and not just a case of homicide and a practice secretly countenanced by some officials, the same does not get swept under the rug and forgotten later.
Both the NBI and Napolcom can take these actions motu propio or on their own.
Recurring incidents of hazing, homicide, and assault at the PNPA are not isolated. Zero incidents and 100 percent safety record are the proper institutional targets, Fortun said.
The case of PMMA Cadet Bondoc has been referred to the House Committee on Higher Education for the conduct of an investigation in aid of legislation.
Past cases of hazing
On November 15, 2019 four cadets in the alleged hazing ofCadet 4th Class John Desiderio at PNPA were charged with violating the Anti Hazing Law. Maj. Resty Soriano chief of the Silang, Cavite police said the case was filed before the Imus City prosecutor’s office.
The respondents were identified as Cadets 3rd Class Jovan Sernat, Arron Dahryl Villanueva and Raul Birung, and Cadet 2nd Class Clarence Cabucos.
Soriano said the complaint was filed by the 19-year-old victim, who was assisted by the local police.
Lt. Col. Byron Allatog, PNPA spokesperson, also confirmed that the criminal case has been filed.
The four cadets were tagged in the affidavit-complaint of Desiderio, who was hospitalized on October 29 after complaining of stomach pains.
On July 6, 2021 Cadet 4th Class Jonash Bondoc, 19, succumbed to blunt traumatic injury in the head after he was reportedly punched by an upper class cadet of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy. His death sparked calls for justice and reform in the academy.
Midshipman Cadet Bondoc, 19, a native of Butuan City, died of a head injury after the suspect, Midshipman Cadet 2nd class Jomel Gloria, allegedly punched him during a “traditional recognition” of Mindanao’s underclass cadets.
Gloria has been arrested and charged with homicide but was released on bail, the Inquirer learned.
Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago has called for an investigation of the incident.
“The fight for justice and accountability does not end here. Kabataan Partylist joins the call for an urgent and independent probe into the death of Jonash Bondoc,” Elago tweeted with #JusticeForJonashBondoc.
The #JusticeForJonashBondoc was among the top trending topics in Twitter since Wednesday as more people demanded justice for Bondoc’s death.
Homicide is not the proper case
Hazing is a scheduled or planned program in a fraternity, sorority and any type of academic organizations.
As such deaths resulting from violent hazing are results of premeditation and planning, connivance or group involvement even, which makes a case for murder and not hazing.
Hazing should be outlawed not just by schools and universities but by society as a whole and doing this requires a legal statute, so that the aggrieved or victim can file the appropriate legal remedies in the law.
Unless a strong law outlawing hazing is completed, this practice will just recur making the perpetrators lord over those wanting to join the group for their own perceived sense of security.
No wonder we have a lot of bullies in the police, PMMA and even the PMA. Those bullies are just out there waiting for their next victim, hopefully not us or any of our loved ones and friends.
Tags: #PhilippineMilitaryAcademy, #PhilippineNationalPoliceAcademy, #cultureofviolence, #hazing, #legislation