UP suspends students involved in frat violence

The University of the Philippines (UP) administration has placed under preventive suspension its four students tagged in the fraternity-related incident last week. 

 

A "Balitanghali" report on Monday said that among the five suspects who have already undergone inquest proceedings at the QCPD Station 9 Saturday, four of them are currently enrolled in UP Diliman and one is an alumnus. 

 

On June 18, four UP students, who are Alpha Sigma fraternity members, were hurt after they were assaulted by members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity in two separate incidents.

 

UP Diliman Chancellor Michael Tan earlier said that the administration will impose the penalty of expulsion on those found guilty of the frat-related violence inside the campus. 

 

The report also said that UP will file charges in relation to the damaged properties of the school after a chase ensued to catch the suspects' getaway vehicle. 

 

Two days before the June 18 incident, a member of the Upsilon frat was attacked, and Alpha Sigma was allegedly being blamed for it, the report said, quoting Tan. 

 

Campus politics was supposedly the cause of the violent acts between the two fraternies, the report said, after Upsilon managed to win in the recent student council elections. 

 

The report meanwhile also said that Jesus Vitangcol, one of the Alpha Sigma members injured in the incident, was already sent home from the hospital after undergoing hand surgery. He also needed 11 stitches in his head, the report said. 

 

University Student Council chairperson John Paulo “JP” delas Nieves, a member of Upsilon, told GMA News Online that the council is calling for a swift and fair probe on the frat-related incidents. 

 

"Walang lugar ang karahasan sa UP. Kaya naman, tayo mula sa University Student Council ay kinokondena ang ganitong uri ng karahasan," Nieves added. 

 

Meanwhile, the UP Law Student Government (LSG) said it will also conduct its own investigation on the incidents, and called on the officers of the fraternities to "initiate amity" among their organizations. 

 

"The fact that the perpetrators, who are themselves students, chose to engage in such reprehensible acts in broad daylight shows a blatant disregard of the law and the right of others to security of their persons," it said.

 

"The acts allegedly committed in the incident qualify as harm to persons, an act of misconduct both of students and student organizations punishable under the Student Code. Moreover, these acts are felonies, punishable by law. Should guilt be proven on the part of those involved, we support the imposition of the penalty of expulsion, as sanctioned by the Code," the group added. 

 

The UP LSG also called on the commitment of UP administration officials, including UP President Alfredo Pascual and College of Law Dean Danilo Concepcion, who are both from Upsilon Sigma Phi. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KG, GMA News