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RA 11053 - Anti-Hazing Act (2018)

Philippine lawLegal status not independently verified

In brief

AI summary. Verify against the source below.

The Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 (RA 11053) bans all hazing activities in fraternities, sororities and other organizations, sets strict rules for any initiation rites, requires registration and monitoring, and imposes heavy criminal and administrative penalties for violations.

Who it affects: It applies to all fraternities, sororities, and similar organizations in schools, community settings, and uniformed services, as well as their members, officers, advisers, and the institutions that host them.

Key provisions

  • Definition of hazing. Hazing includes any act that causes physical or psychological harm to a recruit or member during an initiation, such as paddling, whipping, forced consumption of substances, or humiliating tasks. [Section 2, (a)]
  • Complete prohibition of hazing. All forms of hazing are forbidden in school‑based and community‑based fraternities, sororities, and other organizations; no hazing may be required for employment. [Section 3]
  • School‑based initiation requirements. Before any initiation, a written application must be filed with the school at least 7 days in advance, stating the place, date, participants, and conduct plan; the rite may not exceed three days and must be posted publicly. [Section 4]
  • Monitoring of initiations. The school must assign at least two representatives to attend the initiation, ensure no hazing occurs, document the event, and report the proceedings; they are not liable unless they fail to act to stop hazing. [Section 5]
  • Registration of organizations. All existing and newly formed fraternities, sororities, and similar groups must register with the appropriate school or local government before conducting activities, and must update their member lists regularly. [Section 6]
  • Faculty adviser requirement. Each organization must have a faculty adviser who is not a member of the group; the adviser must consent in writing and is presumed to know any violation of the Act. [Section 7]
  • Nullity of consent or waiver. Any written or verbal consent by a recruit to undergo hazing is void; the defense of consent cannot be used in prosecution. [Section 12]
  • Criminal penalties. If hazing results in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation, participants face reclusion perpetua and a ₱3 million fine; other hazing offenses carry reclusion perpetua with a ₱2 million fine, or reclusion temporal with a ₱1 million fine, plus possible professional disciplinary actions. [Section 14, (a)–(c)]
  • Administrative sanctions for schools and officials. Schools can impose reprimand, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion on officers and members who conduct unauthorized initiations; a school may be fined ₱1 million if hazing occurs after it approved the application. [Section 14, (f)]
  • Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). CHED, DepED, DOJ, DILG, DSWD, AFP, PNP, and NYC must issue detailed implementing rules within 90 days of the law’s effectivity. [Section 15]

Common questions

What acts are considered hazing under the Anti‑Hazing Act?
Hazing covers any physical or psychological suffering inflicted during initiation, such as paddling, whipping, forced consumption of food, drink, drugs, exposure to extreme weather, or humiliating tasks. [Section 2, (a)]
Do schools have to approve every initiation rite?
Yes. A written application must be submitted to the school at least seven days before the rite, include details of the event, and be posted publicly; the rite cannot last more than three days. [Section 4]
Can a recruit sign a waiver to avoid liability for hazing?
No. Any waiver or consent to undergo hazing is void and cannot be used as a defense in prosecution. [Section 12]
What penalties apply if hazing causes death or serious injury?
Participants who plan or carry out hazing that results in death, rape, sodomy, or mutilation face reclusion perpetua and a fine of ₱3 million. [Section 14, (a)]
What are the responsibilities of a faculty adviser?
The adviser must not be a member of the organization, must give written consent to serve, monitor the group’s activities, and is presumed to have knowledge of any violation of the Act. [Section 7]
Are schools punished if hazing occurs after they approved an initiation?
Yes. The school can be fined ₱1 million if hazing happens during an approved initiation or if no school representatives were present as required. [Section 14, (f)]
Do community‑based fraternities have to follow the same rules as school groups?
Community‑based groups must register with the barangay or local government and submit a written application for initiations, following similar requirements such as a three‑day limit and public posting. [Section 10]
When will the detailed implementing rules be issued?
The implementing rules and regulations must be promulgated within ninety days from the law’s effectivity date. [Section 15]

Legal information, not legal advice

Tatsulok checks that this text faithfully reproduces its published source, but Tatsulok is not an official publisher and does not independently verify whether the text is currently in force, amended, or repealed. Always confirm against an official source, such as the Official Gazette or the issuing government authority, before relying on it. This is legal information for study, not legal advice. For your situation, consult a lawyer or Philippine legal aid.