(Eagle News)–Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on University of the Philippines President Danilo Concepcion to suspend the Sigma Rho fraternity following allegations some of its members had engaged in hazing.
In a statement, Gatchalian said the entire fraternity should be suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into the viral social media posts that showed a student’s bruises from the fraternity’s supposed rites, and supposed conversations among the fraternity’s members.
A statement from the Office of the Chancellor said several suspects have already been placed under preventive suspension pending the filing of criminal charges.
“What is more appalling, alarming and disappointing in the case of Sigma Rho is the fact that those involved include incumbent student leaders of the university. Sila na dapat sanang nagsisilbing modelo sa mga kapwa nila estudyante ang siya pang nagiging masamang impluwensiya,” Gatchalian said.
According to the senator, the Student Disciplinary Tribunal should also “act swiftly on the case.”
“UP should not let fraternity-related violence tar its reputation as the country’s national university,” he said.
“It is disappointing that despite the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018, this barbaric act remains to be practiced by fraternities,” he added.
The alleged hazing took place even after a strengthened anti-hazing law after the 2017 death of University of Sto. Tomas law freshman Horacio Castillo III.
Castillo allegedly died due to injuries sustained from Aegis Juris fraternity rites.
Ronnie Evangelista also only recently resigned as Philippine Military Academy superintendent following the death of PMA 4th Class Cadet Darwin Dormitorio this month allegedly due to internal injuries sustained from hazing.