Warring frats smoke peace pipe
Mayor Celso Lobregat initiates a peace pact for warring fraternities in a bid to put an end to violence in the city during a meeting at City Hall Monday night. Affixing their signatures in the covenant of peace and understanding are Edris Mohammad Puhagan of Alpha Kappa Rho and Romel Natividad of Zepta Phi Omega with members of Greek-lettered fraternities as witnesses. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Fraternity groups in the city on Monday night forged a peace covenant and accord at the behest of Mayor Celso Lobregat for the welfare and interest of their members as well as residents of the city in general.
Leaders and elders of the Alpha Kappa Rho (AKRO) and Zeta Phi Omega— two fraternity groups said to be engaged in the latest fraternity-related rumble, also vowed not to resort to violence or any act of retaliation; not to take the law into their own hands and to let the proper authorities conduct the proper investigation and file the appropriate charges in Court. They also committed to call an immediate meeting of its members to disseminate and enforce the accord and the covenant of peace and understanding among fraternities and sororities in Zamboanga.
The formal signing of the accord and the covenant of peace and understanding was the result of a 5-hour meeting convened by Mayor Lobregat at City Hall aimed to resolve the emerging problem in the fraternity system in the city.
Police authorities during the meeting cited the numerous shooting incidents in the city, some of which are fraternity-related, the latest of which was the August 8 stabbing incident in P. Lorenzo St. where the victims were said to be members of the AKRO group.
Mayor Lobregat lamented that the fraternity-related incidents affects the residents and the city in particular, which is why he is taking the cudgels to take active part in helping diffuse the growing tension between and among greek-lettered fraternity groups in the city.
The mayor urged the different fraternity groups to redivert their energies to productive activities like blood letting, outreach programs or other meaningful actions. “Please divert your energies towards productive activities while your energies are running high. We will even guide you towards these productive undertakings,” the mayor told the people attending the meeting.
The signing of the accord, witnessed by Mayor Lobregat, was participated by AKRO representatives Edris Mohammad Puhagan, Kaizar Sakandal and Jethro Gambo while the Zeta Phi Omega was represented by Rommel Natividad and Mon Follosco.
The Covenant for peace and understanding among fraternities/ sororities on the other hand was signed by representatives from the Alpha Kappa Rho, Knights of the Right Keepers, Tau Gamma Phi/Sigma, Tyro Gyn Phi Sigma and Zeta Phi Omega, who attended the Lobregat-initiated meeting.
Witnesses to the signing of the covenant were Mayor Lobregat; Councilors Rudy Lim, Rey Candido, Nonong Guingona, Cesar Iturralde, Roel Natividad, Abdurahman Nuno, Joefel de las Penas and Eddie Saavedra; City Administrator Antonio Orendain Jr., Asst. City Administrator Elmeir Apolinario, City Police OIC Director P/SSupt. Amador Corpus, Task Force Zamboanga Chief Col. Santiago Baluyot, Police Investigation Chief P/Insp. Joel Tuttuh, Police PIO SPO2 Alex Mabalot, Executive Assistant on Barangay Affairs Mario Roca; Barangay chairmen Francisco Macias of Baliwasan, Antonio Deles of Camino Nuevo; Godofredo Sabordo of Canelar, Ahmad Sampang of Kampung Islam, Taib Tawasil of Mariki, Rozdy Mukaram of Rio Hondo, Jaime Rebollos of San Jose Cawa-cawa; Abdulhamid Irin of Sta. Barbara, Rogelio Miranda of Sto. Nino, Agustin Graciano Jr. of Tugbungan, Nonito Aranas of Zone II and Abraham Sakandal of Zone IV; Zamboanga State Polytechnic College President Dr. Nora Ponce, Western Mindanao State University President Dr. Grace Rebollos and Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology President Dr. Milavel Nazario.
The participants to the meeting agreed that each fraternity or sorority exists to serve fellowmen regardless of race, status, creed or beliefs but that the recent events in the city have led to some tension among certain fraternities and sororities.
Based on the covenant, the fraternity leaders who affixed their signatures, declared that they renounce and reject any form of violence and terrorism; that in the event of disputes, conflicts or disagreements, the fraternities or sororities involved shall exercise maximum tolerance and restraint and shall not resort to retaliation but to positive conflict resolution measures such as mediation, negotiation and dialogues; that the fraternities and sororities shall encourage the selection of new members that embody core positive values of service, dedication and brotherhood/sisterhood.
The covenant also emphasized that the concerned fraternities and sororities individually and or collectively, shall encourage promote and undertake positive and constructive community programs, projects and activities such as voluntary blood donation, tree planting, clean-up drives, medical missions, sports, health and fitness to include anti-drug campaigns among others; agree to police their own ranks and further agree to expel its erring and undesirable members who violate any provision of their respective by-laws and this covenant after due process; agree to form a Council of Elders that will serve as Advisor to officers and members of the fraternities/ sororities; that the Council of Elders shall mediate and settle disputes and conflicts between and among fraternities and sororities and, if need be, assist and coordinate with the appropriate authorities in the conduct of investigation and that the fraternities and sororities knowingly and voluntarily agree, abide and comply with the covenant. (Sheila Covarrubias)