Parents of Cebu hazing victims won’t file case

CEBU — The parents of four minors, who were victims of a fraternity hazing in Minglanilla town, are not interested in filing a case against the leader of the Alpha Kappa Omega fraternity, police said.

Minglanilla police chief Limuel Obon said the parents of the four minors from Talisay City merely want to bring their children home.

The four were part of a group of nine minors being initiated into the Alpha Kappa Omega last Sunday afternoon in Sitio Sandayong, Barangay Lipata, Minglanilla. The rest managed to escape.

Obon was also able to talk with the parents of the five minors who escaped. "Sad to say, parents only complain when everything is serious, or when there is mutilation or worse, death," he said.

The four other minors, the youngest of whom is only 12, all sustained bruises from being repeatedly struck with a meter-long paddle.

They and frat leader George Abordo were all released the other day because of the absence of any complaint against them.

Obon said Republic Act 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Act does not empower policemen to initiate charges and act as complainants to fraternity leaders or school leaders who commit hazing.

"It is only the parents who can complain... because it is obvious that these minors are willing victims," Obon said.

Meanwhile, regional police chief Avelino Razon Jr. said he will ask the leaders of Alpha Kappa Omega to sit down with the police so they can discuss the Anti-Hazing Act.

He said the problem was internal unlike the recent violence involving the Tau Gamma Phi and the Alpha Kappa Kho (Akrho).

After years of enmity, the Tau Gamma and Akrho have agreed to police their own ranks to maintain peace and order. — Freeman News Service