SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Third Regular Session 
) 
SENAT2"1l12 
S. B. No. __ 
'15 
AUG 20 P3 :01 
HECEI\'EI) BY:_=0-...: 
Introduced by SENATOR LOR.EN LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING HAZING AND REGULATING OTHER FORMS OF INITIATION 
RITES OF FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, 
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, REPEALING 
FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8049 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
As part of government efforts to ensure and promote a safe environment 
for students in schools and universities, this proposed measure seeks to 
prohibit hazing and regulate other forms of initiations rites of fraternities, 
sororities and other school-based organizations. This is in response to the 
inadequacy of Republic Act 8049 which actually allows hazing provided there 
is prior written notice to school authorities seven days before the conduct of 
the said initiation. 
Apart from the outright prohibition on hazing, this bill requires 
educational institutions to be more involved in the regulation of fraternities, 
sororities and organizations, whether existing or newly established. These 
groups must submit requirements before any initiation rite takes places and 
the rites can only run for a maximum of three days. Schools must approve or 
deny applications. based on established guidelines and at least two 
representatives from the school must be present when the hazing is 
conducted. 
An inter-agency committee will also be established with members from 
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education 
(DepEd), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed 
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) , Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG) , Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the 
National Youth Commission (NYC) to promulgate guidelines and implementing 
rules and regulations in order to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act. 
The bill also revises the penalties on erring school, fraternity and 
sorority officers and other involved individuals, ranging from a fine of one 
million pesos and reclusion temporal to three million pesos and reclusion 


perpetua. The defense that the recruit, neophyte or applicant consented to 
being subjected to hazing shall not be available to persons prosecuted under 
this Act. 
Fraternities and sororities aid in fostering community in the educational 
setting but they are only beneficial if they contribute to a student's personal 
growth and development. 
The tradition of hazing as a ritual, which individuals believe they must 
undergo to solidify respect for and membership in an organization, is 
primitive, archaic, and in many reported cases, murderous. The law must 
protect youl(g people from being lured by the groups who play on their desires 
to fit-in. 
According to reports from the Homicide Division of the Philippine 
National Police (PNP), the victims of hazing are people aged 16 to 25 years old. 
From 2000 to 2008, 13 people have died from this ritual and at least one 
death has been recorded annually since 2009. 
For the above-cited reasons, the passage of this bill is urgently sought. 
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Senator tr/ 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Third Regular Session 
SENATi912 
'15 
AUG 20 P 3 :01 
S,B,No, ___ + 
___________________ t-____ 
-4I.J!..!....L:.I .......... 
' .... 
' I .... ) ... Buy",:-rr·-" 
Introduced by SENATOR LOR N LEGARDA 
AN ACT 
PROHIBITING HAZING AND REGULATING OT ER FORMS OF INITIATION 
RITES OF FRATERNITIES, SORORITIES, AN 
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, 
AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF, REPEALING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8049 
Be it enacted by the Senate and Hou e of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act s all be known as the "ANTI-
2 
HAZING ACT," 
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, 
SEC. 2. Prohibition on Hazing. -
Ary-y physical or psychological 
suffering, harm or injury inflicted on a recruit, ~ember, neophyte or applicant 
as a form of an initiation rite or practice made s a prerequisite for admission 
or a requirement for continuing membership in a fraternity, sorority or 
organization shall be considered as hazing and is hereby prohibited. Hazing 
shall also include any activity, intentionally rna Ie or otherwise, by one person 
• 
alone or acting with others, that tends to hu iliate or embarrass, degrade, 
abuse or endanger, by requiring a recruit, memb r, neophyte or applicant to do 
menial, silly, or foolish tasks. All forms of h 
ing shall be prohibited at 
whatever stage of the initiation rites or practice. 
Fraternities, sororities, and organizations 
those which are community based are likewis 
under this Section. 
ot based in schools such as 
covered by the prohibition 
19 
As used in this Act, the term "school" shall include colleges, universities, 
20 
and all other educational institutions, while 
e term "organization" shall 
21 
include but is not limited to any club, association or group as well as the officer 
22 
and cadet corps of the Citizens' Military Training nd Citizens' Army Training. 
23 
1 


1 
SEC. 3. Regulation of Initiation Rites. -
Only initiation rites or 
2 
practices which do not inflict direct or indirect physical or psychological 
3 
suffering, harm or injury to the recruit, neophyte, or applicant of a fraternity, 
4 
sorority or organization shall be allowed: Provided; 
5 
a. That a written application to conduct the same shall be made to the 
6 
proper authorities of the school not later than seven (7) days prior to 
7 
the scheduled initiation date; 
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b. That the written application shall indicate the place and date of the 
9 
initiation rites and the names of the recruit, neophyte or applicant to 
10 
be initiated; 
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c. That the initiation rites shall not last more than three (3) days; 
12 
d. The application shall contain the names of the incumbent officers of 
13 
the fraternity, sorority or organization and any person or persons that 
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will take charge in the conduct of the initiation rites; 
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e. The application shall be under oath with a declaration that it has 
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been posted in the official school bulletin board, the bulletin board of 
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the office of the fraternity, sorority, or organization, and two other 
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conspicuous places in the school or in the premises of the 
19 
organization; 
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f. The application shall be posted from the time of submission of the 
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written notice to the school authorities or head of organization and 
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shall only be removed from its posting three (3) days after the conduct 
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of the initiation rites; 
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The school, organization, fraternity, or sorority shall provide for their 
26 
respective bulletin boards for the purposes of this section. 
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The appropriate authorities of the school shall have the right to approve 
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or disapprove the application, and the reasons thereof shall be stated clearly 
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and in unequivocal terms in a formal advice to the fraternity, sorority or 
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organization concerned taking into consideration the safety and security of 
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participants in the activity. Guidelines for the approval or denial of the 
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application to conduct initiation rites by a registered fraternity, sorority or 
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organization shall be promulgated by the appropriate school officials not later 
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than sixty (60) days after the approval of this Act. 
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School officials shall have the authority to impose, after due notice and 
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summary hearing, disciplinary sanctions to the head and all other officers of 
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the fraternity, sorority, or organization which conducts an initiation without 
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first securing the necessary approval of the school as required under this 
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Section. All members of the fraternity, sorority or organization, who 
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participated in the unauthorized initiation rites, even if no hazing was 
43 
conducted, shall also be punished accordingly. 
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45 
In case the written application for the conduct of initiation rites contains 
46 
false or inaccurate information, appropriate disciplinary sanctions shall be 
2 


1 
imposed, after due notice and summary hearing, against the person who 
2 
prepared the application or supplied the false and inaccurate information and 
3 
to the head and other officers of the fraternity, sorority, or organization 
4 
concerned. 
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SEC. 4. Monitoring of Initiation Rites. - The head of the school or an 
7 
authorized representative must assign at least two (2) representatives of the 
8 
school to be present during the initiation. It is the duty of the school 
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representatives to see to it that no hazing is conducted during the initiation 
10 
rites. The representatives of the school who were present during the initiation 
11 
shall make a report to the appropriate officials of the school regarding the 
12 
conduct of the initiation. 
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SEC. 
5. 
Registration of Fraternities, 
Sororities, and Other 
15 
Organizations. - All existing fraternities, sororities, and other organizations 
16 
otherwise not created or organized by the school but has existing members who 
17 
are students or plans to recruit students to be its members shall be required to 
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register with the proper authorities of the school before it conducts activities 
19 
whether on or off-campus including recruitment of members. 
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A newly established fraternity, sorority, or organization in a school shall 
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immediately register with the proper authorities of the school during the 
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semester or trimester in which it was established or organized: Provided, That 
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the new fraternity, 
sorority, or organization has complied with the 
25 
requirements prescribed by the school in establishing a fraternity, sorority, or 
26 
organization: Provided, further, That schools shall promulgate their guidelines 
27 
in the registration of fraternities, sororities, and organizations within their 
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jurisdiction not later than sixty (60) days from the approval of this Act. 
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Upon registration, all fraternities, sororities, and organizations shall 
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submit a comprehensive list of members, which shall be updated not later than 
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thirty (30) days from the start of every semester or trimester, depending on the 
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academic calendar of the school. 
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35 
School officials shall have the authority to impose, after due notice and 
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summary hearings, disciplinary penalties to the head and other officers of the 
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fraternity, sorority, or organization who fails to register or update their roster of 
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members as required under this Section. 
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SEC. 6. Faculty Adviser. - All fraternities, sororities, and organizations 
41 
must be assigned a faculty adviser responsible for monitoring the activities of 
42 
the fraternity, sorority, or organization. The faculty adviser must be a duly 
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recognized active member, in good standing, of the faculty at the school in 
44 
which the fraternity, sorority, or organization is registered. 
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3 


1 
SEC. 7. Role of Educational Institutions. - Schools shall implement an 
2 
information dissemination campaign at the start of every semester or trimester 
3 
to provide adequate information to students regarding the consequences of 
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conducting and participating in hazing. 
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An orientation program relating to membership in a fraternity, sorority, 
7 
or organization shall also be conducted by schools at the start of every 
8 
semester or trimester. 
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Schools shall encourage fraternities, sororities, and organizations to 
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engage in undertakings that foster holistic personal growth and development 
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and activities that contribute to solving relevant and pressing issues of society. 
1~ 
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SEC.8. Registration of community based fraternities, sororities, or 
15 
organizations. - All new and existing community based fraternities, sororities, 
16 
or organizations shall register with the barangay or municipality or city 
17 
wherein it is primarily based. 
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Upon registration, all community based fraternities, sororities, or 
20 
organizations shall submit a comprehensive list of members and officers which 
21 
shall be updated yearly from the date of registration. 
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Sec. 9. Regulation of initiation rights for community based 
24 
fraternities, sororities, or organizations. - Only initiation rites or practices 
25 
which do not inflict direct or indirect physical or psychological suffering, harm, 
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or injury to the recruit, neophyte, or applicant of a fraternity, sorority, or 
27 
organization shall be allowed. Provided; 
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a. That a written application to conduct the same shall be made to the 
29 
barangay captain in the barangay or the municipal or city mayor in 
30 
the city or municipality where the community based fraternity, 
31 
sorority, or organization is based not later than seven (7) days prior to 
32 
the scheduled initiation date; 
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b. That the written application shall indicate the place and date of the 
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initiation rites and the names of the recruit, neophyte or applicant to 
35 
be initiated; 
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c. That the initiation rites shall not last more than three (3) days; 
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d. The application shall contain the names of the incumbent officers of 
38 
the community based fraternity, sorority or organization and any 
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person or persons that will take charge in the conduct of the initiation 
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rites; 
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e. The application shall be under oath with a declaration that it has 
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been posted in the official bulletin board of the barangay hall or the 
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municipal or city hall where the community based fraternity, sorority, 
44 
or organization is based and the bulletin board of the office of the 
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community based fraternity, sorority, or organization, 
4 


1 
f. The application shall be posted from the time of submission of the 
2 
written notice to the barangay captain or municipal or city mayor and 
3 
shall only be removed from its posting three (3) days after the conduct 
4 
of the initiation rites. 
S 
6 
SEC. 
10. Monitoring of initiation rites of community based 
7 
fraternities, sororities, or organizations. - The barangay captain of the 
8 
barangay or the municipal or city mayor of the municipality or city where the 
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community based fraternity, sorority, or organization is based must assign at 
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least two (2) barangay or municipal or city officials to be present during the 
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initiation. It shall be their duty to see to it that no hazing is conducted during 
12 
the initiation rites. The representatives who were present during the initiation 
13 
shall make a report to the barangay captain, or the municipal or city mayor 
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regarding the conduct of the initiation. 
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SEC. 11. Nullity of Waiver and Consent. - Any form of approval, 
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consent or agreement, whether written or otherwise, or of an express waiver of 
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the right to object to the initiation rite or proceeding which consists of hazing 
19 
as defined in this act made by a recruit, neophyte or applicant prior to an 
20 
initiation rite that involves inflicting physical or psychological suffering, harm 
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or injury shall be void and without any binding effect on the parties. 
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The defense that the recruit, neophyte or applicant consented to being 
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subjected to hazing shall not be available to persons prosecuted under this Act. 
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SEC. 12. The Inter Agency Committee Against Hazing. -
The 
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), 
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Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of 
28 
the Philippines (AFP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), 
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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), National Youth 
30 
Commission (NYC) and an organization representing educational institutions, 
31 
schools, colleges and universities shall create an inter-agency committee that 
32 
shall promulgate guidelines and implementing rules and regulations in order to 
33 
carry out the provisions of this act. 
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SEC. 13. Administrative Sanctions. - The responsible officials of the 
36 
school or of the police or military may impose the appropriate administrative 
37 
sanctions, after due notice and summary hearing, on the person or the persons 
38 
charged under this Act even before their conviction. 
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SEC. 14. Penalties and Liability of Those Involved in Hazing. - The 
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following penalties shall be imposed: 
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1) 
The penalty of reclusion temporal and a fine of one million pesos 
43 
(Pl,OOO,OOO.OOO) shall be imposed upon the participating officers and members 
44 
of the fraternity, sorority or organization involved in the hazing. 
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2) 
The penalty of reclusion perpetua and a fine of two million pesos 
46 
(P2,OOO,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon the members of the fraternity, sorority 
5 


1 
or organization who were intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol or illegal 
2 
drugs when they actually participated in the hazing. The same penalty shall be 
3 
imposed upon the non-resident or alumni members of the fraternity, sorority or 
4 
organization who actually participated in the hazing. 
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6 
3) 
The penalty of reclusion perpetua and a fine of three million pesos 
7 
(P3,OOO,OOO.OO) shall be imposed upon those who actually participated in the 
8 
hazing if, as a consequence of the hazing, death, rape, sodomy or mutilation 
9 
results therefrom; 
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4) A fine of one million pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) shall be imposed on the 
12 
school if the fraternity, sorority or organization filed a written application to 
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conduct an initiation which was subsequently approved by the school and 
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hazing occurred during the initiation rites or when no representatives from the 
15 
school were present during the initiation as provided under Section 4 of this 
16 
Act. 
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5) It shall be unlawful for any person to intimidate, threaten, force, or to 
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employ, or administer any form of vexation against another person for the 
20 
purpose of recruitment in joining or promoting a particular fraternity, sorority, 
21 
or organization. The persistent and repeated proposal or invitation made to a 
22 
person who had twice refused to participate or join the proposed fraternity, 
23 
sorority, or organization shall be prima facie vexation for purposes of this 
24 
section. Provided further, that violation of this section shall be punished by 
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prision correccional in its minimum period. 
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6) The owner of the place where hazing is conducted shall be liable as a 
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principal when he has actual knowledge of the hazing conducted therein but 
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failed to take any action to prevent the same from occurring or failed to 
30 
promptly report the same to the law enforcement authorities if he can do so 
31 
Without peril to himself or his family. If the hazing is held in the home of one of 
32 
the officers or members of the fraternity, sorority, or organization, the parents 
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shall be held liable as principals when they have actual knowledge of the 
34 
hazing conducted therein but failed to take any action to prevent the same 
35 
from occurring or failed to promptly report the same to the law enforcement 
36 
authorities if he can do so without peril to himself or his family. 
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7) The school authorities including faculty members as well as barangay, 
39 
municipal or city officials shall be held administratively liable for hazing 
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conducted by fraternities, sororities and other organizations if it can be shown 
41 
that the school or barangay, municipal or city official allowed or consented to 
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the conduct of hazing or where there is actual knowledge of hazing, but failed 
43 
to take any action to prevent the same from occurring or failed to promptly 
44 
report to the law enforcement authorities if the same can be done without peril 
45 
to the person reporting or his/her family. 
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6 


1 
8) The officers, former officers, or alumni of the fraternity, sorority, or 
2 
organization who actually planned the hazing although not present when the 
3 
acts constituting the hazing were committed shall be liable as principals. A 
4 
fraternity, sorority or organization's faculty adviser who is present when the 
5 
acts constituting the hazing were committed and failed to take action to 
6 
prevent the same from occurring or failed to promptly report the same to the 
7 
law enforcement authorities if he can do so without peril to himself or his 
8 
family shall be liable as principal. 
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9) The presence of any person during the hazing is prima facie evidence 
11 
of participation therein as principal unless he prevented the commission of the 
12 
acts punishable herein or promptly reported the same to the law enforcement 
13 
authorities if he can do so without peril to himself or his family. 
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10) The incumbent officers of the fraternity, sorority or organization 
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concerned shall be jointly liable with those members who actually participated 
17 
in the hazing. The prima facie presumption that arises herein shall be rebutted 
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only by the individual defense of desistance and renunciation by the accused. 
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11) Any person charged under this Act shall not be entitled to the 
21 
mitigating circumstance that there was no intention to commit so grave a 
22 
wrong. 
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12) This Section shall apply to the president, manager, director or other 
25 
responsible officer of a corporation engaged in hazing as a requirement for 
26 
employment in the manner provided herein. 
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13) Any judgment of final conviction shall be reflected in the scholastic 
29 
record, personal or employment record of the person convicted, regardless of 
30 
when the conviction is arrived at. 
31 
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SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is 
33 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
34 
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect. 
35 
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SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 8049 is hereby repealed. 
37 
All other laws, decreed, executive orders, proclamations, rules and regulations, 
38 
or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
39 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
42 
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general 
43 
circulation. 
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Approved, 
7