Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes is urging authorities to treat hazing as organized crime following the death of a student during a fraternity initiation rite.
Ordanes said violent initiation rites are often carried out through coordinated actions by members of fraternities, making hazing more than a simple criminal act.
“The Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation should treat hazing cases as organized crimes because they are perpetrated in methodical and organized ways. Hazing is not a mere murder committed by people. Every incident is committed by organized groups with well-defined hierarchy, roles and financial capacity and resources,” he said.
The lawmaker made the call after the death of 19-year-old maritime student Mark Kenneth Alcedo, who died following initiation rites conducted by members of the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity in Dasmariñas City.
Ordanes expressed condolences to the victim’s family and sympathized with other initiation participants who survived the incident.
“I offer my deepest condolences to his grandparents and parents, and my sympathies to his fellow neophytes who survived the torture inflicted upon them by their supposed brothers,” he said.
Ordanes, a member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, called on the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, and Department of the Interior and Local Government to consider treating fraternities involved in hazing as criminal syndicates.
“This Tau Gamma Phi fraternity has been involved in too many hazing incidents. They should have been treated as a criminal syndicate a long time ago,” he said.
Ordanes also urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to review and possibly revoke the registration of the fraternity as a non-profit organization.
He proposed requiring fraternities and their chapters to register not only with national agencies but also with local governments.
According to Ordanes, the absence of updated registries of fraternities in barangays and cities reflects weak oversight by authorities.
“We are not surprised because many barangay officials and personnel are members of fraternities. There are also police officers who are fraternity members,” he said.
The lawmaker also criticized universities and the Commission on Higher Education for what he described as a lack of accountability over fraternity activities linked to campuses.
“Many schools evade liability and accountability by not recognizing fraternities among their non-academic organizations. The CHED does not assume administrative responsibility over school-based fraternities that are not registered, recognized or accredited by colleges and universities,” Ordanes said.