Leaked group chat links another fraternity to 'malicious' messages

Another fraternity based in the University of the Philippines (UP) is under fire after its members were linked to a leaked group chat containing lewd messages and sensitive photos.

Screenshots of conversations supposedly among members of the UP Visayas Scintilla Jvris have gone viral on social media. Following the leak, the fraternity called the messages "malicious" and claimed it was taking action.

This comes more than a year after messages in a leaked group chat containing misogynistic, homophobic, and racist messages were attributed to Upsilon Sigma Phi members. UP president Danilo Concepcion, an Upsilon member, had called the messages "reprehensible and totally unacceptable."

This time, a Twitter account called @MANYAKSOFUPV posted screenshots of a group chat whose members shared nude photos of women, allegedly including their exes and friends, and made sexually objectifying comments. A tweet was tagged #ScintillaScandal.

#ScintillaScandal pic.twitter.com/P4P6XjtDAa

— Manyaks of UPV (@MANYAKSOFUPV) June 26, 2020

   SAMASA UPV   , a political organization, said the Twitter account gained traction for releasing conversations that "contained messages on sexual harassment, slut shaming, objectification, and homophobia."

The Twitter account, which appears to have first tweeted on June 26, has since been sharing submissions from people coming forward and accusing fraternity members of harassment.

In its statement, UPV Scintilla Jvris apologized to "those who were harassed/violated by the actions taken by members involved."

pic.twitter.com/Ye4ODGuKDj

— UPV SJ (@UPV_SJ) July 1, 2020

The fraternity said it has created fact-finding and disciplinary action committees "to ensure accountability at the soonest possible time."

"UPV Scintilla Jvris denounces misogyny, sexual violence, and homophobia. We are already taking action," the fraternity said.

The UP Stella Juris sorority, for its part, said it "strongly condemn[s] all forms of harassment and blatant disrespect against minors and people regardless of gender affinity."

“Women, especially minors, are not objects. Women, the minors, and the members of the LGBTQ++ Community deserve respect.”

UP STELLA JURIS SORORITY OFFICIAL STATEMENT: pic.twitter.com/q2ulMTxWAA

— UPV SJ (@UPV_SJ) July 1, 2020

"We do not condone the misogynistic and homophobic remarks and manifestations in the controversial private conversations," the sorority said.

"The system we are trying to abolish will never be eradicated if this practice is perpetuated even in small circles. Our calls and protests for women empowerment and abolishment of machismo are bastardized not only by the prevalence of abuse, but also by the exchanges of sensitive media and conversations," it said.

SAMASA UPV likewise said it "does not condone any form of sexual violence and discriminatory acts targeted towards the vulnerable sectors of women and the LGBTQIA+."

It said it will look into its own members who were allegedly "complicit and directly engaged" in the group chat and will "implement the necessary disciplinary sanctions." --KBK, GMA News