Frats urge groups linked to Bar exam blast to 'come clean'

Members of six fraternities from universities and colleges around the country condemned on Friday the “brutal" explosion during the last day of the Bar examinations last Sunday, and urged other groups involved in the incident to surrender their members to authorities. Fraternities Scouts Royale Brotherhood, Tau Gamma Phi, Delta Sigma Xi, Sigma Epsilon Phi, Alpha Phi Omega and Beta Sigma said that fellow fraternities “involved one way or the other" in the blast should “come clean" and cooperate with investigators. “As part of the greater fraternity community, we appeal to our fellow brethren to cooperate with the proper authorities by subjecting themselves to a comprehensive investigation," the groups said in a joint statement on Friday. The groups likewise said that those who have information on the incident must speak and “rise above their loyalties to their respective fraternities." Last Sunday, an explosion occurred near the De La Salle University (DLSU) campus along Taft Avenue, where law graduates took the Bar examinations this year. At least 47 people were injured in the incident, believed to have been caused by feuds among law school fraternities. (See: Cops suspect law frats behind Bar exam blast) Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, however, said on Thursday that the National Bureau of Investigation has not yet established whether five men seen in the area before the blast were members of law school fraternities. (See: Frat war may not have caused Bar exam violence — NBI) In the joint statement, the fraternities also urged similar organizations “to shun all forms of violence." “The only way to modernize, professionalize and mainstream our respective fraternities and bring it back its rightful and noble place in society is for these institutions to repudiate all forms of violence against its members and fellow fraternities," they said.—JV, GMANews.TV