(NI NOEL ABUEL)

NAHAHARAP sa parusang habambuhay na pagkabilanggo ang mga kadete ng Philippine Military Acedemy (PMA) na isinasangkot sa pagmakamatay ng isang kadete dahil sa hazing.

Ito ang sinabi ni Senador Panfilo Lacson kung saan isa nang capital punishment ang hazing na isang heinous crime at hindi na iba sa kasalukuyan dahil sa marami na aniyang batas na naipasa at ang pinakahuli rito ay ang Atio Castillo hazing case.

“Hazing is as old as discipline itself because weapon yang ginagamit. Over time dapat meron nang ibang naging creative na ang kadete dahil with the passing of time, marami nang mga batas na naipasa ang latest ang amendment dahil sa Atio Castillo hazing case. So ‘yung mga kadete involved, they never learn because iba na ang situation. During our time, when you are caught hazing, ang punishment is dismissal or suspension. Meaning, you get turned back and join the class following or succeeding the class. But now it’s different, it carries capital punishment,” paliwanag nito.

“Kaya while it is tragic that 4th Class Cadet Dormitorio is now dead because of hazing, I cannot feel but pity those who are involved in the hazing of 4th Class Cadet Dormitorio simply because hindi na lang administrative ang sanctions na haharapin nila, kundi they face a potential imprisonment of 40 years. And these people, the upper class cadets, are now at the prime of their lives, so mga early 20s or not even 20-year-olds. But then they face the possibility of spending the rest of their lives in prison,” dagdag pa nito.

Giit pa ni Lacson na ang hazing ay bahagi ng disciplinary mechanism subalit dahil sa pagbabago ng panahon ay dapat na nakapag-adjust na ang mga kadete na hindi na ito dapat pang mangyari pa.

“Sabi ko nga, ang hazing is part of the disciplinary mechanism. But times have changed and the cadets should be able to innovate. Dapat sila they go with the flow, hindi na pwede ang hazing and they should avoid physical contacts. Because may exception naman sa amendment sa hazing law na ginawa namin, ang military and police training may exceptions doon. If you require your trainees to undergo some physical exercises, di kasama ‘yan as long as it is within the guidelines ng SND or Napolcom. Pero physical contact is really a violation of the hazing law,” ayon pa kay Lacson.