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Friday, September 16, 2005
Editorial: Akrho, Tau as crime groups
Declare the two notorious fraternities as criminal groups?
Initial reaction of peace-loving people who have been appalled by serial crimes committed by members of Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) and Tau Gamma Phi must be: What took it so long?
Cebu Province police director Vicente Loot had listened to town and city police chiefs under his command and he saw a common problem: disturbances of the peace by Akrho and Tau.
Loot told the police chiefs to collect data to support his recommendation to the Police Regional Office and the Regional Peace and Order Council that the two frats be declared criminal groups.
Concerned citizens have worried for some time now how the two frats could be so insensitive to public disgust and anger over crimes committed by their members and how some public officials have coddled the lawbreakers instead of being firm in enforcing the law.
Yet, after elation over the announcement subsides, these questions come rushing:
l What does declaration of Akrho and Tau as crime groups mean? Will the two frats be considered illegal and therefore outlawed?
l How will that jibe with freedom of association and assembly guaranteed by the Constitution? Can their meetings be deemed plots on lawlessness?
l What changes will the labeling have on police handling of incidents involving Akrho and Tau? Will the two groups be regarded as part of organized crime?
Meaning and effects of Loot's plan still have to be clarified. Akhro and Tau have friends in high places and there are the civil liberty advocates. The frats might come out fighting in court and, more fiercely just to be mean, on the street.
The Loot recommendation may set off heated debate but there will be one good result: more public awareness of the problem and stronger response to it.
Many frat members have become public nuisance, "a menace to society," in Loot's words.
If only to embarrass and push their leaders to give more energy to stop criminal activities of their members, Loot's plan on Akrho and Tau deserves a serious look.
DNA test as key to nail Ecleo
It is not difficult to see why the defense in the parricide case against Ruben Ecleo Jr. doesn't want his child to submit to DNA testing.
An expert said it is crucial to proving conclusively that the body found in Dalaguete, Cebu was his wife Alona's.
With doubts over identity, they might not convict the cult leader and former mayor.
(September 16, 2005 issue)
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