Saturday, December 08, 2007 Nalzaro: Lessons from Aristotle Aves’ story By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
I DON'T know Aristotle Aves from Adam.
I only heard of his notoriety when the police tagged him as one of the most wanted persons in Central Visayas for his alleged involvement in fraternity-related incidents. But I can only sympathize with him now.
Aves is allegedly an Alpha Kappa Rho (Akrho) fraternity hit man. He is facing criminal charges ranging from murder, frustrated murder and homicide.
Worse, he is being condemned by relatives of his alleged victims and the public. They want him dead. Poor Aves. It is now him against the world.
Not only that. The police are also looking into his possible involvement in gun-for-hire activities, illegal drug trade and the series of robberies in the Metro Cebu area. He is linked to the ambush-slay of a Japanese businessman in Mandaue City a few weeks ago. Aves can also expect more cases to be filed against him by the police.
But looking at the circumstances, we can ask: What drove this young man to commit those crimes leveled against him, if he really did them? Was it because of his being a frat man? Was it in defense of his group? Or was it because of his criminal tendencies?
According to Richard Buscaino, chairman of Akrho in the region, the fraternity had nothing to do with Aves’ criminal activities. He did it on his own. Also, he was already dropped from the fraternity's roster of membership after he failed to explain his initial brushes with the law.
If that is the case, why did some of his fraternity brothers protect Aves if he was already expelled from the group? Did the fraternity use Aves to terrorize Akrho’s rival, Tau Gamma Phi?
While he was running away from authorities, Aves was accused of being responsible for the killing of some Tau Gamma Phi members and the drive-by shooting last October that claimed the lives of three innocent people. Is he that ruthless, barbaric and heartless to just kill innocent people without any apparent reason?
Before he became a fugitive, the 27-year-old Aves was a customs administration student at the University of Cebu. His mother claimed that he is a good son. His first involvement in a frat-related incident, wherein he was mauled by members of the rival group, practically changed his life and shattered his dreams of becoming a professional.
With the string of criminal cases filed against Aves, I doubt if he can regain his good reputation. The term “criminal and notorious” will always be attached to him even if he will be acquitted.
Had he not become an Akrho member, Aves would not have figured in skirmishes with the rival fraternity that led to his being what he is now. Had he not led the life of a fugitive, he would have finished college and realized his ambitions. He could have even raised his own family.
Can we therefore attribute to his membership with Akrho the main reason why his life is now miserable? And since he is already deep in trouble, can he expect help from people he considers his Akrho brothers?
What happened to Aves can be considered a lesson for students who are fraternity members and those who wish to join Greek letter societies. Joining a fraternity is not bad per se. But make sure that the group you will be joining in is a good and reputable organization and not gangs disguised as fraternities.
