Philippines urged to add ‘more teeth’ to anti-hazing law after student’s death during initiation
- The Philippine government is being urged to strengthen the anti-hazing law to make fraternities more accountable following the death of John Matthew Salilig
- One senator said the anti-hazing legislation, amended in 2018, was ‘not enough’ to prevent hazing deaths
Philippine senators probing the death of a university student who died during an initiation ritual have called on the government to strengthen the anti-hazing law to make fraternities more accountable.
The naked and decomposed body of John Matthew Salilig, a chemical engineering student at Manila’s Adamson University, was found on February 28 – ten days after he went missing following his participation in “welcoming rites” at Tau Gamma Phi fraternity.
Police, citing the autopsy report, said the 24-year-old died due to “severe blunt trauma to the lower extremities”. They added the body was maimed from the chest down to the thighs, the Philippine Inquirer reported.
The postmortem exam also stated Salilig was smacked with a paddle about 70 times during the incident which happened in Laguna province, southeast of Manila.
Speaking at a senate hearing on Tuesday, lawmaker Francis Tolentino said the anti-hazing legislation, amended in 2018, was “not enough” to prevent hazing deaths.
“We have to provide it with more teeth to make fraternities, sororities and organisations involved in hazing more responsible and to make those who had a chance to prevent these deaths liable,” Tolentino said.
