Vice gov: Frats should register with province

Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez, the presiding officer of the Provincial Board, is eyeing the passage of an ordinance requiring fraternities to register with the provincial government. This after suggestions that fraternities need to register with the Securities and Exchange Commission to regulate their activities.

Fraternity-related crimes since January 2004 have reached more than 40 already, most of these involving the Alpha Kappa Rho and Tau Gamma Phi fraternities.

Sanchez said the province wants to get the complete member list of these fraternities.

"What is happening today is that even officers do not know their members," Sanchez said.

He said that although there is no "Parent Law" that addresses the problem of feuds, the Civil Code could be a proper basis for the victims and the relatives to obtain justice.

Under the Civil Code, a superior in an organization can be held liable for the actions of his subordinates.

"Our role is to find a way through which we can monitor and regulate them, and if that happens we can turn them into assets instead of liabilities," Sanchez said.

On the other hand, Committee on Laws chairman PB member Antonio Almirante said that he will study the most effective way of regulating the groups.

Being a frat leader himself as he founded Beta Sigma Phi Fraternity, Almirante said it has to be emphasized that a fraternity stands for brotherhood and as such exists for a good reason.

Almirante said there is also a need for Congress to pass legislation on the matter for the local ordinance to have more teeth.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has tried her hand in brokering peace between Akrho and Tau Gamma. She met with the leaders of the two groups who accordingly expressed their willingness to solve the problem. - Ferliza C. Contratista