Thursday, January 15, 2004
Akrho members to watch Sinulog in designated area
By Rene H. Martel
MEMBERS of Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho), except those who are part of the fraternity’s official entries to the different Sinulog 2004 categories, are not allowed to join the grand parade on Sunday.
A concession during a meeting with authorities and the group’s officials was reached Tuesday, however, for other members who are not part of the entries to witness the festivity in a “designated area.”
Policemen, whom Akrho officials will pick themselves, will be tasked to monitor that fraternity members do not stray from the designated area.
Akrho, on the other hand, promised the members will not be seen drinking and will behave themselves so as not to disrupt the activity.
Despite the set-up, Ricky Ballesteros, Sinulog 2004 executive director, admitted he was still jittery since it only takes a little act, like a stare, to trigger a melee.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña, though, said everyone should not resort to generalities by thinking of Akrho as synonymous to violence.
“There are good Catholics and there are bad Catholics. We don’t want to have this class attitude towards people. It is a person who violates the law not a group,” he said.
He said that if Akrho members will start trouble, the police will run after the individuals and not Akrho itself by breaking up the group.
Akrho officials agreed to the plan since it will also mean better security for members who could be targeted by rival Tau Gamma Phi.
“I don’t want to hear anymore statements that will alienate the entire fraternity,” the mayor said, apparently referring to Supt. Cecil Ezra Sandalo, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director.
Sandalo lost his temper when he learned fraternity members were involved in the death of a mason Monday night.
Akrho and Tau Gamma Phi have been bitter rivals, whose members figured in bloody clashes the past years.
Recently, however, the two groups were seen doing outreach activities together to show the public they were trying to put their violent past behind.
The mayor acknowledged that while Akrho officials are trying to discipline members, they are having a hard time since they do not know all of them.
That is why Ballesteros is still uneasy with what has been agreed upon.
As to the fraternity’s entries, he said Akrho joined the free interpretation as well as the higante, puppeteers and float categories.
He said, however, the entries are subject to pre-screening, which is why they need to know where Akrho’s contingent is having its practice.
(January 15, 2004 issue)
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