Frats ink peace pact with Mandaue gov''t

Members of Alpha Kappa Rho and BRP fraternities forged a peace pact with the Mandaue City government yesterday.

In a dialogue, city police director Alexander Abadinas told fratmen to discourage their members from bringing weapons and to call the police in case of trouble.

"Kung naay trouble ang inyong mga miyembro, dapat motawag mo ug pulis for assistance, di kay panawgon ninyo ang inyong mga kauban sa fraternity unya mosamot ang gubot," Abadinas said.

Acting mayor Amadeo Seno Jr. said the government will not hesitate to use its "iron fist" if fraternity members will not cooperate.

"Kanang mga gahi og ulo, tan-awon nato kung unsa na kagahi ang ilang ulo," Seno said during the dialogue at the session hall.

The dialogue was called following the death of four persons, one of them a policeman, after a shootout involving members of warring fraternities in barangay Pagsabungan, Mandaue City, last Sunday.

Luis Dimpas III, reportedly an Alpha Kappa Rho member, was killed on the spot, while PO1 Herminio Caylan of the Regional Mobile Group died at the Cortes General Hospital.

Edna Inowe, 33 and Jomar Cañete, 21, also died before reaching the hospital. An injured Phoebe Lumagas, 24, was brought to the Mandaue City Hospital

Dimpas, 27, allegedly shot Cañete, a member of the BRP, a fraternity associated with the Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, the rival of Akrho.

Seno was also disappointed yesterday when none among the officers or members of the Tau Gamma attended the dialogue.

Seno, a fratman himself while he was a law student in UP Diliman, told fratmen that to be in a fraternity is not about engaging in trouble and adventurism but for brotherhood and camaraderie especially in times of need.

"Rethink, revisit your priorities. Di kay magpundok-pundok mo unya mag-inom inom unya inug human, gubot. You organize yourselves and do some civic work, malipay pa ang katawhan ninyo ana. The public views fraternities as a gang tungod sa mga kagubot involving fraternities," Seno said.

Richard Buscayno, the regional coordinator of Akhro, said they would be policing their own ranks.

Abadina also urged fratmen to bring erring members to the police station instead of hiding them. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP