Alpha Sigma alumnus says UP frat wars a ‘treacherous attack’

Alpha Sigma Fraternity alumni president Atty. Roel Pulido on Friday called a recent fraternity-related incident at the University of the Philippines Diliman campus a "treacherous attack," disputing earlier reports which described the violence as a "rumble" or a "frat war."

"We wanted to clarify, and this is proven by the records of UP and the records of the UP police force, that there was no rumble. There was just a treacherous attack on our frat," Pulido told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

Some four UP students, identified as Alpha Sigma fraternity members, were allegedly assaulted by members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi in two separate incidents last June 18.

Alpha Sigma fraternity members were accused of attacking Upsilon members two days prior to the incident, but Pulido said that there were no records of the supposed first attack. "Tuesday, UP called us, they were telling us that we are being suspected by the other party of hurting two of their members. We told UP, wala kaming kinalaman diyan," he said.

While pleased with the preventative suspension imposed on the five suspects, Pulido objected to UP naming their meetings "truce talks" as it implied involvement on the part of Alpha Sigma. "If you call it truce talks, you are accusing us of engaging in a rumble, and we are not involved in any," Pulido explained.

"The attack done on my frat was done on a Wednesday. That's why I'm telling UP: You are responsible for this. You knew Upsilon Sigma Phi was poised for an attack. You called us to a meeting, hindi naman kami involved and then, after we agreed to a meeting, they attack us," he continued.

Pulido also accused University Student Council Chair JP Delas Nieves, an Upsilon Sigma Phi member, of not fulfilling his vow to resign from his post, should a frat-related incident happen during his term.

"Why are they coddling him? He promised during his campaign that he would resign if these fraternities were involved in a rumble. This is worse than a rumble because it was an unprovoked, treacherous attack," Pulido questioned.

Representatives at the University Student Council General Assembly last June 24 voted to have Nieves show proof of his resignation from Upsilon by June 29 in deference to sanctions imposed on him for the recent incidents.

The body approves that JP has to show proof of his resignation from Upsilon by Monday. #USCGA

— Philippine Collegian (@kule1415) June 24, 2015

In a Facebook post, Nieves had asked for the cooperation of all organizations involved in the brawl and declared that violence had no place at the university. "Muli, ang UP ay binuo hindi para sa dahas at karahasan, ito ay para sa Dangal at Husay. At pagkatapos ng kabanatang ito, nananawagan ako sa lahat ng Iskolar ng Bayan na sama sama nating wakasan ang kultura ng karahasan," he wrote.

The five suspects in the frat incident underwent inquest proceedings on June 20. A report on "Balitanghali" said a frustrated murder case against them was deemed "for followup" during the inquest. — DVM, GMA News