Duterte admits hazing put him in hospital, says it can’t be stopped

Duterte made the statement after the deaths of a Sigma Rho fraternity member allegedly involved in hazing activities at the University of the Philippines in Diliman and of Philippine Military Academy cadet Darwin Dormitorio.

Speaking to reporters before his departure for Russia on Tuesday night, Duterte said hazing could not be eliminated in the culture of fraternities.

“Hindi mo talaga matanggal ‘yan, ma’am. Unless you ban fraternity for all time. Make it a criminal offense by joining a fraternity. But that would raise so many constitutional issues. Hindi mo talaga mapigilan ‘yan,” Duterte said.

The President, a member of the Lex Talionis fraternity at the San Beda Law School, recounted how he himself went through hazing in college, and was even hospitalized for three days due to “massive hematoma.”

He added he and two classmates wrote to their fraternity to “earnestly” ask to do away with hazing.

“I don’t know what but that is a permanent insanity sa mga ganun. Lahat kami dumaan ng… Me, I’d like to tell you, I was hospitalized for three days, massive hematoma… Wala rin eh. Hindi mo talaga maalis ‘yan. You know ikaw pumasok ka, ‘pag nahuli ka, sorry ka,” he said.

But the President said he was against hazing that was “carried too far.”

He also said there were rules to follow and not doing so would mean jail or death.

“Prangka-prangka na, hindi mo maalis ‘yan. ‘Wag lang sumobra. Ayan sinobrahan mo.  You know, there are rules to follow. You break the rules, you go to jail. Ganun lang ‘yan. Or you die. Those are simple matters in life,” the President said.

Duterte signed last year a law banning all forms of hazing after the death of University of Santo Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo 3rd.