Hazing issue resurges amid Salilig hazing case

Issues on hazing among fraternities resurfaced due to the alleged hazing of John Matthew Salilig, an Adamson University student who was buried dead in a shallow pit in Imus City, Cavite, as reported by national headlines, February 28.

There have been known hazing-related deaths in the Philippines, like the death of Leonardo Villa, which prompted the passage of the Anti-Hazing Act of 1995, and August Caezar Saplot on September 18, 2022.

The 1995 version of the Anti-Hazing Act only regulates the practice of hazing and other initiation rites in fraternities and sororities in the Philippines.

However, former President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration revised the Act in 2018 to outright ban all forms of hazing in fraternities and sororities in the Philippines.

Because of the incident involving the death of Salilig, the senate plans to expand the sweep of the Anti-Hazing Act to penalize fraternity and sorority officers and alums who are cognizant of but are not necessarily witnesses to the hazing carried out against new members.

Meanwhile, in Siocon National Science High School (SioNaSci), according to a female student and frater- nity member, she joined the organization for the brotherhood and sisterhood found within the fraternity, which allowed them to help fellow members whenever it is needed, especially during natural disasters, which is a common occurrence in Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte.

However, she said that during her initiation, she was blindfolded and repeatedly hit behind her thighs with a blunt object leading to bruises.

“Perti jud nakung bunuga ato ni-apil ko sa fraternity. Ni-apil ko ato kay agi kay apil akong duha ka igsuon [I was heavily bruised when I joined the fraternity. I joined it because of my siblings],” a SioNaSci student testified.

In SioNaSci, many students are members of fraternities, and some fraternities even with the law, still practice hazing.

According to Police Corporal Gardson Dela Peña, there are approximately less than 20 hazing victims ever reported in Siocon.

“Sa pagkakarun, dili mutaas sa baynte ang na-report sa amua bahin sa hazing. Dili mi ka-action kung walay mureport nga naay hazing ug kalimitan ginabuhat ni nila patago [As of now, there are only less than 20 reported cases on hazing. We cannot take action without any official reports of hazing operations, and usually hazing is done covertly],” said Dela Peña in an interview with The Pis Siyabit. Furthermore, there have been no hazing-related deaths in Siocon and no hazing-related cases reported since 2012.

Meanwhile, The Pis Siyabit survey conducted on March 21, showed that out of 1445 student-respondents, 112 had been involved in fraternities, 89 males and 23 females, 72 out of 89 male fraternity members underwent hazing while 18 out of 23 female fraternity members underwent hazing.

LTO Siocon seizes road violators

Siocon Zamboanga del Norte – The Land Transportation Office intensifies the arrest of road violators through road checkpoints which started last May 2022 under the management of the new Officer in Charge, Mr. Edwin Delos Reyes.

Reyes mandated his fellow officers to penalize unlicensed drivers, drivers with student driver’s permits but not accompanied by a fully licensed driver, and unregis-

Siocon’s 86th founding anniversary highlights initiation of Buklog

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To join the ritual, one must ascend to the surface of the elevated and flexible platform and perform the Buklog dance.

Mayor Ceasar C. Soriano said that the program was arranged mainly to acknowledge the culture of the Subanens and to showcase how Subanen’s blood runs deep throughout Siocon.

“We have to be proud nga kaning lungsod sa Siocon, ang atong mga igsuong Subanen tungod sa ilang kusog, kadasig, paghigugma, ug panaghiusa dinhi sa atong lungsod kanunay nga naghatag ug dakong simbolo nganong gitawag ta ug taga Siocon [We have to be proud that in our municipality, our Subanen brothers and sisters’ strength, motivation, love, and unity have remained a huge symbol of why we are called Sioconians],” stated the Mayor. tered vehicles.

There were no exact statistics on the penalized violators. However, one of their notable arrests was an unregistered car that was later on discovered to be carnapped, which was then turned over to the police station for the proper disposition to the valid owner.

Moreover, Reyes further said that aside from that incident, he disclosed that most road violators were unli- censed teenagers.

The Subanen Village Priest Danilo Dandana Davi, otherwise known as “Boliyan,” said that Buklog is valuable because it is the Subanens’ way of showing appreciation to the spirits for a variety of reasons like the recovery from illnesses or disasters, timely as we are slowly recovering from COVID-19.

Davi added that at least 55 people are needed to build or construct the Buklog.

“Advise ko lang sa mga teenagers, sundin niyo parents niyo kasi ang parents alam talaga ang tama at galing sila diyan. Huwag matigas ang ulo. Kung bawal pa bawal talaga. [My advice to teenagers is to follow your parents’ advise since your parents really know what is right. Do not be hardheaded. If you are not allowed to drive, then you should not drive],” Mr. Delos Reyes stated.

“Wala gipa agi sa makina, kinahanglanon lang namo nga magtinabangay sa among tribo, sa kusog, singot para ipadayun ni sa mga Subano [No machine is needed in constructing Buklog, all we need is the cooperation, support, and strength of our tribe, so that this tradition lasts],” said Davi in an interview.

Mayor Soriano also declared that Siocon will always support the tradition and culture of Subanens.

R.T. Lim - Siocon road to finish by 2024

ANGEL CLARISSE A. GARCIA

In the pursuit of accessibility, the over 1.9 billion pesos Project Road-08 R.T. Lim to Siocon is gearing toward its completion come 2024, as per the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office in an interview with The Pis Siyabit.

According to Engineer Isaac N. Manlangit of DPWH, besides improving growth corridors in the Mindanao road sector, the road is meant to help farmers access national roads and connect municipalities.

It can be recalled from the previous paper issue that M. Abubakar Construction and Engineering Incorporated finished the M. Francisco to Sitio Otso road in 2020.

This road construction of the aforementioned barangays was only a portion of Project Road-08 R.T Lim - Siocon road.

Currently, to fully finish the project, China Wuyi Co. Ltd. and 2M Company are working together by operating from Siocon and R.T. Lim respectively until they meet halfway.

Celebs underpin Joint Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign FROM PAGE 1 ceremony.

Mayor Soriano urged everyone present to report anyone engaging in illegal drug activities, pushers and users alike, whether teens or adults.

“Kung may kilala kayong gumamit, ipaalam ninyo sa autoridad [If you know anyone using illegal drugs, report him or her to the authorities],” declared Mayor Soriano.

Meanwhile, during the event, the PDEA, PNP, and LGU-Siocon emphasized the downsides of using prohibited drugs and encouraged students to nev-