Sen. Tito Sotto wants to amend Anti-Hazing Law, seeks automatic life imprisonment for who inflict "punishment"

Manila Bulletin Online reports that Senator Tito Sotto has filed a bill seeking to amend the 17-year-old RA 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law. The report quoted Sotto, who explained, "The bill seeks to amend Section 4 of the Anti-Hazing Law, where the mere fact of participation in inflicting injuries in hazing will be penalized with reclusion perpetua, regardless of the consequence." His move comes in the wake of San Beda College law student Marvin Reglos’ death from alleged hazing injuries.

The report noted that the current law prescribes the following penalties:

• Life imprisonment will only be imposed if ’death, rape, sodomy or mutilation’ results from the hazing.
• If the victim "shall become insane, an imbecile, impotent or blind," it means 17 to 20 years in jail.
• If the victim loses the use of speech, or lost an eye, or a hand or any limb, the penalty is between 14 to 17 years imprisonment.
• The lightest penalty, four to six years in prison, is given if the victim suffers physical injuries "which do not prevent him from engaging in his habitual activity or work."

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