Tuesday, October 17, 2006 Frat leaders: Akhros, Taus ‘now brothers’
THE fraternity member blamed for the shooting of a member of a rival fraternity has been suspended from the Alpha Kappa Rho and will be expelled from the group if the courts convict him.
Jehzel Paner, 19, who was arrested for the shooting of Tau Gamma member Joel Hermoso, will also not get the financial or legal aid the group usually provides to its members.
With this, the leaders of Tau Gamma Phi have agreed to accept whatever the outcome of the police investigation of the police and ordered all members not to retaliate.
In a conference with Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Vicente Loot, four fraternity leaders said Akrho and Tau Gamma “are now brothers and all members are directed to tow the line.”
Jojo Maniquis, who represented Akrho’s national leaders, Akrho Regional president Richard Buscaino, Tau Gamma provincial governor Nanan Gimenez and provincial vice governor Rene Seballos were all present to show to the public they were serious about wanting to end the violence.
They said they condemned the violent incidents that happened last week “in the strongest possible terms.”
“Both organizations are working together to put a stop (to) the deplorable criminal activities that are being done by some misguided members of our respective fraternities,” the statement said.
As for the shooting of a 15-year-old boy in Mandaue City, Akrho has guaranteed his “automatic expulsion” from the group should investigators learn he is an Akrho member.
Regarding the incident in Minglanilla town, Buscaino clarified it was not a robbery but a rumble that for him was unacceptable because the teenager was outnumbered by four Akrho members.
He said they were now under suspension.
Both groups vowed to submit a list of their chapter presidents so that if there are cases involving their members in the towns, they can be invited by police to help solve the case.
“If the chapter presidents won’t cooperate or, worse, cover up for the crimes committed, they will also be charged with obstruction of justice or as an accessory to the crime and subjected to drastic disciplinary actions by their respective organizations,” said Maniquis, who read from a statement he and the other leaders drafted in Loot’s office.
The statement came with an appeal to the media not to sensationalize reports by making sure of the identities of those involved in the crime.
“The same appeal is also being made to all police investigating units to please refrain from naming our fraternities without having solid proof on the real identities of the suspects,” Maniquis said.
Loot is planning a team building session with all leaders in December with a workshop for both fraternities so come up with lasting solutions to the problem.
He said he will also ask the Cebu City Police Office and Mandaue City Police Office to join them, as they also have fraternity-related violence in their jurisdiction.
Frat leaders also assured the public will be seeing more of their organizations in joint activities.
Maniquis said that after the press conference, they ordered all chapter presidents to report to the barangay captains in there area and offer their services to the community.
Buscaino also said all Akrho members have until January next year to renew their membership with the fraternity by getting a white identification card.
He said that without the card, they are considered inactive, suspended or expelled.
Tau Gamma, on the other hand, has a single data base for all members worldwide. If the name is not in the list, then he is not a member of the fraternity.
Loot will also be requiring the two fraternities to submit a monthly list of members who have been sanctioned for various offenses. (MEA)
