Cebu frat willing to talk peace with rival group

CEBU CITY — A fraternity here which has figured in a "war" with a rival group said it was willing to sit down and talk peace following a fresh outbreak of violence between them.

In a meeting with regional police director Avelino Razon Sunday night, Tau Gamma Phi vice president Edward Tanting made the peace overture with rival fraternity Alpha Kappa Rho or Akrho.

Razon said he was willing to mediate so the two groups can settle their differences.

Razon actually called for a dialogue between leaders of the two fraternities last Friday but only Alpha Kappa Rho was represented.

Tanting said it was not his group’s intention to "snub" that dialogue, saying they were actually on their way to attend the meeting but did not proceed after seeing the Akrho representatives and learning there were new members who were not aware of the real situation between the two groups.

The fraternity war dates back to the 1960s when disgruntled members of Tau Gamma broke away to form another group, Delta Kappa Rho, which eventually changed its name to Alpha Kappa Rho.

Since the split, the groups had engaged in sporadic clashes which had claimed the lives of a number of frat members.

The recent flare-up started on Jan. 16 and has since resulted in the death of a Tau Gamma member.

Only last Saturday, six Akrho members ganged up on a Tau Gamma member at a coffee shop at the Ayala Center.

Alarmed by the escalating violence, Tanting told Razon the Tau Gamma is now willing to extend the hand of peace and reconciliation to Akrho but needs to be assured of its sincerity. — Freeman News Service