A Senate panel recommended on Monday, Sept. 4, the amendment of the Anti-Hazing Law or Republic Act 11053 instead of giving the Commission on High Education (CHED) a new charter so it can impose stiffer penalties against schools that would be involved in hazing.
Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero (Senate PRIB Photo)
During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education chaired by Sen. Francis Escudero, he stated that this is a better move instead of giving the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) an additional function.
"I think it is better to amend the anti-hazing law instead of amending CHED's charter and including it as part of the functions of CHED," he said.
Senate Bill 2270, endorsed by Sen. Francis Tolentino, seeks to amend Section 8 of Republic Act 7722 by giving the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) an express power to sanction and impose fines on those colleges and universities who are remiss in their statutory duty.
The bill proposes to give the CHED the power to impose the payment of a P5-million fine to any school who fails to conduct the required orientation and who fails to submit their compliance report on the same to CHED and to Congress.
Failure of the college or university to also conduct information dissemination shall also be grounds for the CHED to deny the school’s autonomous status.
"Upon reading and study of the proposed measure filed by Sen. Tolentino, the chair thinks it's better to amend the Anti-Hazing Law (or) Republic Act 11053 and insert the provisions being suggested in the Senate bill instead or in lieu of amending the charter of CHED in so far as his proposal is concerned," Escudero said.
"For this purpose, chair hereby assigns Senate Bill 2270 to a technical work group and to closely coordinate with the office of Sen. Tolentino in order for a substitute bill to be drafted," he added.
On Aug. 8, the joint Senate Committees on Justice and Human Rights and Public Order and Dangerous Drugs presented Committee Report No. 92 which recommended imposing stiffer penalties against schools that would be involved in hazing-related activities.
The report stemmed from its public hearings on the death of Adamson University student John Matthew Salilig, who died due to hazing last February.