Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Editorials: Another ‘frat-related’ violence
AFTER that well-publicized peace covenant between Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) and Tau Gamma Phi last year comes what could be the worst “frat-related” incident in Cebu.
The incident took the life of a policeman more than a week after PO2 Jessie Yramis died in a shootout with an Air Force member in a karaoke bar in San Nicolas.
But while PO1 Herminio Caylan may have committed lapses during a commotion in Pagsabungan, Mandaue City last Sunday dawn, he died while doing his job.
This made the incident he got embroiled in more tragic.
Frat-related
Mandaue police are still investigating the shootout, which resulted in the death not only of Caylan but also of an alleged member of Akrho, an alleged member of a fraternity associated with Akrho’s rival Tau Gamma Phi and a bystander.
But there seems to be not much question that frat rivalry was behind the incident, although one expects leaders of erring fraternities to come out with the usual disclaimers.
Which brings us to the matter of whether or not frat wars here can be stopped.
Peace pact
The “Declaration of Cooperation and Unity between Tau Gamma Phi and Alpha Kappa Rho” was signed in the presence of then Cebu provincial police chief Vicente Loot in September.
While sporadic clashes did happen since then, these were not of a magnitude that could raise public concern.
Still, it showed that the culture of violence blanketing some of the territorial chapters of these fraternities still needed to be eradicated fully.
To be fair to leaders of Akrho and Tau Gamma, however, they were frank enough to admit that the problem could not be solved overnight.
Whether the recent incident will spur them to speed up the solution of the problem remains to be seen—meaning this will test their resolve to be true to the pact.
Other sectors
Besides, members of Akrho and Tau Gamma are not the only ones exhibiting a propensity for violence, those identified with such gangs as Bloods and Creeps are, too.
This means that solving the problem of frat or gang-related violence fully should involve sectors other than just law enforcers and leaders of fraternities and gangs.
Barangay officials and residents, notably parents of youths targeted for recruitment or are already members by these groups, should monitor their activities.
With the kind of incidents involving these frats and gangs happening now, a holistic approach is needed to solve the problem.
