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Monday, October 10, 2005
Anti-violence drive hinges on bosses’ will
THE shooting that took place shortly after he met with the Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma Phi fraternities has not discouraged the Cebu provincial police chief.
He will push through with this Wednesday’s manifesto signing to solve fraternity-related violence.
“We all agreed that this could not be solved overnight. They (fraternity members) admitted that something was wrong... with the way they discipline and supervise their members,” Supt. Vicente Loot told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Loot also wants to establish a system where police can identify fraternity leaders to be held accountable for violence committed by their group.
The leaders said that when the fraternity members commit violence, their superiors shall issue statements that they won’t retaliate. They shall also order their men to avoid provoking members of the other group. They agreed to turn erring members over to police.
Loot said that if a member violates the memorandum, he will be investigated and, if found guilty, be expelled from the fraternity.
Loot clarified that Saturday’s meeting was not a peace talk but a discussion to find “lasting solutions” to the conflict.
“I hate peace talks. It can collapse any time. They are skin-deep and superficial,” he said.
Loot warned that if the two fraternities won’t commit to solve the problem, he will have them considered as criminal groups.
Since November last year, police stations in Cebu reported 31 fraternity and gang-related incidents in which seven persons.
It’s worse in Cebu City.
According to the records of the Cebu City Police Office, from January 2004 up to Oct. 4, at least 42 cases were attributed to Akrho and Tau Gamma.
The incidents cover murder, homicide, frustrated/attempted murder and frustrated/attempted homicide.
Fifteen frat members have been killed, according to the same police report.
The hostilities have even prompted Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal and Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to offer to mediate between the two fraternities.
The governor has already initiated peace talks at the Capitol.
Loot said that if the two fraternities end their conflict, he may even seek their help in the campaign against crime. (MEA)
(October 10, 2005 issue)
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