Sigma Rho
ΣΡ
Sigma Rho seal
Founded1938 (1938)
University of the Philippines College of Law
TypeUniversity
ScopeUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
MottoSeekers of the Right
Slogan
  • For the Sigma Rho, fight!
  • For the Grand Archon, fight!
Colors  Maroon,   Green,
  White and   Gold
SymbolFraternity seal
Chapters1
HeadquartersUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
WebsiteOfficial website

The Sigma Rho Fraternity (ΣΡ) is a College of Law-based fraternity in the University of the Philippines Diliman.[1][2] Having been formally organized in 1938, it is the oldest law-based Greek-letter fraternity in Asia.[3][4] However, it has also expanded its membership base to include undergraduate students, including those studying for degrees in engineering, business, and sports science.[3] It is one of the three fraternities based in the College of Law, the other two being Alpha Phi Beta and Scintilla Juris.[5]

It is also part of Sigma Rho Philippines, an alliance of independent fraternities that were born of the same tradition, which has around 40,000 resident and alumni members from all over the country.[6]

History

Sigma Rho was founded by Charter Members Pacifico Agcaoili, Constantino Borja, Rodolpho Frayre, Joaquin Gonzales, Tiburcio V. Hilario, George V. McClure (an American Law student who was the first Grand Archon in 1939), Angel Medina, Carlos Ramos, Luciano Salazar (who later assisted Alexander SyCip in creating the law firm Sycip and Salazar), Antonio Moran Sison, Narceo Zambrano (who was the Grand Archon in 1940).[7]

The Charter Adviser was then professor and later Court of Appeals Justice Magno Gatmaitan.[7][8]

The fundamental law of the fraternity is that "The word of the Grand Archon is Law". Its hierarchy of loyalty is the following: first is God, second is country, third is family, fourth is the University of the Philippines, fifth is the University of the Philippines College of Law, and sixth is Sigma Rho. Meanwhile, its vows are sacrifice, loyalty, obedience, and service.[8]

Symbols

The two letters of the Greek alphabet are its emblems for the stature of its members as "Seekers of the Right".[1][9] The Greek initials also stand for the initials of Sanchez Roman, a Spanish jurist whose scholarly commentaries on the Civil Code of Spain were authoritative references used by the students of the UP College of Law.[10]

Members of the fraternity are called "Comrades", while the fraternity’s presiding officer is called "Grand Archon", which means Chief Magistrate in ancient Greece. The treasurer is referred to as the Custodian of Funds.[11]

Notable members

Antonio T. Carpio, Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice

Judiciary

Law

Literature

Juan Ponce Enrile, former senate president

Politics

Sports

Incidents

From 1991 to 1994, Sigma Rho was involved in a total of 32 reported violent incidents between fraternities in the UP campus.[37]

In 1994, Sigma Rho member and UP Law student Dennis Venturina died after seven Sigma Rho members were unexpectedly attacked inside the campus by the Scintilla Juris fraternity. While he was brought to the UP Infirmary by bystanders, he eventually died due to severe head injuries inflicted by lead pipes and baseball bats.[38][39][40] In 2019, the five UP students convicted for the murder were released from prison.[41][40]

In 1999, UP student Niño Calinao was shot and killed inside the campus.[42][43] Investigators suspected that Calinao was caught in the violence between Sigma Rho and Scintilla Juris, being mistaken for a member of the latter fraternity.[44][43] Calinao was not a member of any fraternity.[42][45] The same year, several Sigma Rho members were expelled by reason of mauling members of Alpha Phi Beta.[46]

In 2000, several Sigma Rho members killed Den Daniel Reyes, a member of the Alpha Phi Beta, in front of UP Law Center.[47] The Sigma Rho members allegedly took turns in stabbing and hacking Reyes with long knives.[48][49] In 2008, the three students accused of ganging up on Reyes pleaded not guilty to the homicide charge.[50] The same year, a Sigma Rho member was suspended for two years for possession of deadly weapons in the UP College of Law.[51]

In 2007, graduating UP student Cris Mendez allegedly died during an initiation with Sigma Rho.[52][53][54] Former Senator Jovito Salonga resigned as a member of the fraternity because of this incident.[55] Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile also labeled his fraternity brothers “trainor [sic] of thugs and killers” and urged them to surrender those who are responsible for the death of Mendez.[56] “I am calling on them to initiate the effort to ferret out the people responsible and kick them out of the fraternity and if necessary kick them out of school", Enrile added.[56] In 2016, the Court of Appeals affirmed a decision allowing the preliminary inquiries conducted by the university prosecutor against students who were allegedly involved in the fatal hazing to proceed.[57][58]

In 2016, Sigma Rho was involved in a fight with Alpha Phi Beta during the UP Law Bar Operations.[59] The next year, the fraternity was again involved in a series of altercations with Alpha Phi Beta for which the two fraternities reportedly kept score of attacks and retaliations.[60][59]

In 2019, a Sigma Rho member died by suicide after alleged conversations among Sigma Rho members, including photos of hazing rituals, hazing paraphernalia, hazing victims, and hateful content, were leaked online.[61][62] Several organizations and public figures condemned the fraternity and demanded full accountability,[63][64] including Delta Lambda Sigma – Sigma Rho's partner sorority.[65] Several members of Sigma Rho were placed under preventive suspension pending formal charges, while the UP administration called on for the public to stop forwarding messages related to the incident and for media personnel to respect the privacy of the deceased's family.[66][67]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "University of the Philippines College of Law – Fraternities and Sororities". University of the Philippines College of Law. Archived from the original on February 7, 2015. Retrieved December 15, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Advocacy | Sigma Rho Fraternity". 2017-02-03. Archived from the original on 2017-02-03. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  3. 1 2 Celeridad, Paolo (2 August 2013). "In Photos: Sigma Rho at 75". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  4. ↑ "About | Sigma Rho Fraternity". Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  5. ↑ "Baguio Midland Courier Website". www.baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  6. ↑ Señeres, Ka Iking (26 January 2012). "Homesteads Bring Hope". Retrieved 2021-10-13 – via PressReader.
  7. 1 2 "About the Fraternity". Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  8. 1 2 "About the Sigma Rho Fraternity". 2006-08-11. Archived from the original on 2006-08-11. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  9. ↑ Celeridad, Paolo (2 August 2013). "In Photos: Sigma Rho at 75". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  10. ↑ Abaya, Eduardo. "Recollections on the Fraternity". Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  11. ↑ "Recollections on the Fraternity | Sigma Rho Fraternity". 2017-03-31. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  12. ↑ Elemia, Camille (28 August 2018). "Drilon urges Carpio to apply as next chief justice". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  13. ↑ "Law frats also in spotlight at CJ trial". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  14. ↑ "Ex-SC justice Serafin Cuevas dies". Rappler. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  15. ↑ Nalzaro, Bobby G. (2014-07-18). "Nalzaro: Joining fraternities". Sunstar. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  16. ↑ "Velasco gets support from fraternity". Philippine Star. 2006-04-10.
  17. ↑ "Public Service". Sigma Rho Fraternity.
  18. ↑ Ranada, Pia (12 September 2013). "Frank Chavez: Warrior litigator, beloved father figure". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  19. ↑ Cabacungan, Gil (27 April 2013). "'The Firm' not so firm: It's breaking up". Inquirer.Net. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  20. ↑ "Sigma Rho brods forever! Panelo, Carpio still friends despite tiff over China loan". Latest Philippine politics news today. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  21. ↑ "The Philippine Earth; Without Seeing the Dawn. By Stevan Javellana. 359 pp. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown & Co. $2.75". The New York Times.
  22. ↑ "Resume of Senator Angara - Senate of the Philippines". www.senate.gov.ph. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  23. ↑ Lirio, Gerry. "In memoriam: A silent warrior named 'Edong'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  24. 1 2 "Ex-Senate President Salonga Resigns From Fraternity After Hazing Death" Archived 2007-10-17 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Officials back passage of tougher anti-hazing law". Sunstar. 2018-07-15. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  26. ↑ Macaraig, Ayee. "Enrile, Daza, Cuevas: The Octomaneuvers". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  27. ↑ "DOJ resolve". Philippine Star. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  28. ↑ Mateo, Wenceslao. "Ang 'dictatorial power' sang Grand Archon". Panay News. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  29. ↑ Elemia, Camille. "Drilon admits he underwent fraternity hazing". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  30. ↑ "Fratmen senators also went through hazing". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  31. 1 2 Mendoza, Diana G. (12 September 2012). "Rafael M. Salas: 'Mr Population' who started it all". Rappler. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  32. ↑ "Outlooke Pointe Foundation (OPF) » Message from Oscar Gozos, President of the Sigma Rho Council". opf.ph. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  33. ↑ Evangelista, Oscar L. (2008). Icons and Institutions: Essays on the History of the University of the Philippines, 1952-2000. UP Press. ISBN 9789715425698.
  34. ↑ "Antipolo mayor dies of multiple organ failure". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  35. ↑ Pedrasa, Ira. "LRay Villafuerte: GMA's hand obvious in CamSur bill". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  36. ↑ "A vote for UP". philstar.com. Retrieved 2019-08-01.
  37. ↑ Zarco, Ricardo M.; Shoemaker, Donald J. (1995). "Student Organizations as Conflict Gangs, University of the Philippines, Diliman". Philippine Sociological Review. 43 (1/4): 69–84. ISSN 0031-7810. JSTOR 23898534.
  38. ↑ "G.R. No. 196735 - Separate Opinion". www.lawphil.net. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  39. ↑ "G.R. No. 196735". www.lawphil.net. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  40. 1 2 Hallare, Katrina (2019-09-04). "5 UP fratmen convicted of murder also released from NBP". inquirer.net. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  41. ↑ "Frat violence victim Dennis Venturina's dad says unaware of release of son's killers". ABS-CBN News. 2019-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  42. 1 2 "Casualties of frat-related violence in UP". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  43. 1 2 Bagares, Romel. "3 UP Sigma Rhoans charged". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  44. ↑ Frialde, Mike. "Gunman in UP slay case gets death". philstar.com. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
  45. ↑ Bagares, Romel. "UP frat men swap charges". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  46. ↑ "UP Gazette July to September 2006" (PDF).
  47. ↑ "3 former UP students plead not guilty in frat-related slaying". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  48. ↑ Bagares, Romel. "3 UP Sigma Rhoans charged". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  49. ↑ Mendez, Christina. "Police get new witnesses on UP frat killing". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  50. ↑ "3 former UP students plead not guilty in frat-related slaying". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  51. ↑ "UP Gazette January - March 2005" (PDF).
  52. ↑ "Senate Resolution on Conducting an Inquiry" (PDF).
  53. ↑ "Frat alleged in neophyte's death, 12 others slam hazing". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  54. ↑ "Doctor who brought Cris Mendez to VMMC surfaces". 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  55. ↑ Santos, Tina (2007-09-15). "Salonga resigns from Sigma Rho". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2008-09-26. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  56. 1 2 "Enrile labels frat brods 'trainor of thugs, killers'". inquirer.net. 2008-06-11. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
  57. ↑ "Court of Appeals affirms UP proceedings vs hazing suspects". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  58. ↑ Punay, Edu. "CA junks plea of 4 frat men in hazing case". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  59. 1 2 "Philippine Collegian Tomo 95 Issue 04". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-10-17.
  60. ↑ "'Kampihan'? UP LSG questions neutrality of some members over APB and Sigma Rho rift". Abogado. 2021-10-16. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  61. ↑ Cepeda, Mara. "U.P. frat member dies after latest hazing exposé". Rappler. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  62. ↑ "UP student kills self over hazing". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2020-07-11.
  63. ↑ "U.P. community condemns frat-related violence, impunity over leaked chat". Rappler. Retrieved 2021-10-13.
  64. ↑ "Statement of Senator Win Gatchalian on New Allegations of Hazing in UP Diliman".
  65. ↑ "UP Delta Lambda Sigma stands against Sigma Rho's 'malicious and unlawful actions'". www.abogado.com.ph. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  66. ↑ Marquez, Consuelo (2019-09-27). "UP Diliman imposes preventive suspension vs students tagged in frat hazing". inquirer.net. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
  67. ↑ "Statement on the Sigma Rho Fraternity-related death and alleged hazing incident". UP Media and Public Relations Office. 2019-09-30. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
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