Loot meets with Tau, Akrho officials again

Local and national leaders of the rival Tau Gamma Phi and Alpha Kappa Rho met with Cebu Provincial Police Office director Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot yesterday for a dialogue to find ways to end their animosity.

Akrho was represented by its regional president Richard Buscayno and national office representative Jojo Mañiquez, while Tau Gamma was represented by Nannan Jimenez and Renen Ceballos, Cebu chapter governor and vice governor respectively.

Loot said the dialogue has come up with an agreement towards lasting solution to the violent rivalry of the two fraternities.

Loot proposed to schedule a series of consultations with local and national officials of both parties, and wanted to invite police officials from the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay to the gathering.

A team-building seminar for both parties will also be conducted soon.

After the meeting, Mañiquez read the handwritten manifesto before Loot and reporters condemning the recent incidents involving their members. The manifesto was later handed over to Loot.

"Both organizations are working together to put a stop on deplorable criminal activities that are being done by some misguided members of our respective fraternities, with the assistance from the Philippine National Police ably represented by Col. Loot of the Cebu Police Provincial Office," the manifesto said.

The manifesto stated that the person responsible for the shooting incident in Naga town last week has been automatically suspended and if proven guilty by the court, he will be expelled from Akrho.

With regards to the recent incident in Mandaue City, the manifesto said that once the suspect is proven to be a bonafide member of Akrho, he would be automatically expelled for committing the crime of murder.

"As for both incidents, the leadership of Akrho will help in solving both cases, on the part of our brothers from Tau Gamma Phi, they will submit on whatever the outcome of the investigation having done by the police and has directed all its members not to retaliate on these incidents," the manifesto added.

The two groups promised that their respective leadership would submit a master list of all their chapter presidents and chairmen to Loot so that in the event of another incident, police can easily invite them for questioning.

A chapter president of either group who will not cooperate with police or cover up a crime committed can be charged with obstruction of justice or with accessory to the crime, and will be subjected to drastic disciplinary actions by his organization.

Loot asked the groups for the monthly submission of the updated list of suspended members of the two groups and their involvement in any incidents.

The groups appealed to the media to help solve the problem by not sensationalizing any story in which they were involved, and asked police authorities to refrain from naming the fraternity without having solid evidence on the real identity of the suspects.

The groups further assured the public that they are "burning the midnight candles" in order to come up with a lasting solution to the problem.

"We would like to emphasize that Akrho and Tau Gamma are now brothers and all members are directed to tow the line," the manifesto said.

Buscayno appealed to his members to follow the covenant and activate their membership up to January 2007 in order to avail of the official identification card. He explained that they are activating their members since October 8 so as to get rid of those unauthenticated ones.

Ceballos also said they are adopting a strict recruitment process and are now working for a worldwide identification system. - Gregg M. Rubio