Fraternity violence: Gwen warns frat for snubbing her

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia gave the leaders of Tau Gamma Phi until today to decide whether or not to heed her calls for a meeting with rival Alpha Kappa Rho otherwise she would take action against them.

Garcia was disappointed when Tau Gamma refused to participate in the dialogue. The governor's secretary tried to contact Cebu Tau Gamma leader Mitchell Flores through The FREEMAN, but Flores said they do not want to meet with Garcia.

Flores also refused to give his contact number.

The governor admired the Akrho leaders for their willingness to meet with her this afternoon in response to her call.

Garcia reiterated that she does not intend to step into the conflict between the two fraternities, but added that she only wanted to take her responsibility to protect the residents of the province against "their deadly tantrums."

Garcia refused to reveal her actions against Tau Gamma and Akrho if they will not stop with their rivalry. She also refused to reveal her actions against Tau Gamma for its refusal to talk to her. "If we can't talk to certain groups. Just watch me," she added.

But the Tau Gamma hierarchy yesterday clarified it will only meet with either Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal or Governor Gwen Garcia if Akrho will not be invited.

It added it is not yet ready for a dialogue with Akrho considering the failed peace accords they entered in the past.

But in a message sent to The FREEMAN, Flores said they are not closing their doors on future peace talks with Akrho.

"Tau Gamma is not yet for another peace talk because it feels that these recent violence are isolated cases. There has been no conviction yet and these incidents have not been confirmed nga frat-related so unsay may I-peace talk. The police should investigate first and there should be conviction before we conclude that this is a full-blown frat war." Flores said.

He said they wanted to meet with Vidal or Garcia to lay down their sentiments and reveal the history of the animosity between them and Akrho.

"Ang among gusto nga sampolan g'yud. Bring them to the courts and prosecute them. I don't care og asa na belong nga group basta og nakasa lutoson g'yud," he pointed out.

He also clarified that their refusal to give their contact number to Garcia was not intended to snub the governor.

Meanwhile, a video camera led to the discovery of a fraternity initiation rites in barangay Binlod, Argao town last Saturday.

PO1 Vivian Tamayo of the women's desk of the Argao Police Station yesterday said two out-of-school youths recruited six high school students aged 13, 14 and 15 years old to join the Christ in Peace Society gang.

Tamayo said one of the recruits took the video camera of his father, who is a policeman assigned in Alcoy town, and used it to record the initiation rites.

But the policeman saw the rites featuring his son when he looked and found the video camera in the bag of his son.

The policeman and immediately brought the video camera to the Argao police.

Tamayo said they are now working to identify the suspects, as appropriate charges will be filed against them within the week. - Fred P. Languido, Ryan P. Borinaga and Flor Z. Perolina