An August 22 e-mail sent to Cris Mendez further implicated members of the Sigma Rho (SR) fraternity in the initiation rites that resulted in Cris’s death, according to his mother.

"See you on Saturday," said a message from a certain JJ Ocana, an SR member, according to Cristina Mendez in a forum against hazing at the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG) on December 11. Her son Cris, a graduating NCPAG student, died on August 27 in a fraternity hazing initiated by alleged SR members.

According to Ms. Mendez, the e-mail ordered Cris to memorize word for word the “Sigma Rho Tenets,” which also included the Code of Actions of a Sigma Rhoan. It also wished him “good luck,” as “they look forward to having Cris as their brother.”

“Kahit nakagawa ng mali, kakampihan pa rin at pagtatakpan ang brod nila; walang kwenta sa kanila ang diyos, ang batas ay balewala din,” Ms. Mendez added, mentioning the SR’s first rule of standing by the side of any SR brother, in right or wrong.

The recovered messages shall be added to the evidence they have against SR members, said Ms. Mendez.

Meanwhile, according Roger Sususco, special investigator of the Anti-Terror Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), they are just waiting for reports from Police Chief Inspector Filemon Porciuncula, medico-legal officer of the Quezon City Police Distict Crime Laboratory Office who conducted Cris’s autopsy, before formally filing violation of Anti-Hazing Law charges against the suspects.

Among those who were summoned by the NBI during its investigation, and who may possibly face charges, are heads of SR Ronald Chua and Raul Grapilon, and members, including Ryan Bacay, Crispin Calimson, Reggie Agustin, and Andoni Santos.

In the same forum. anti-hazing advocates proposed to criminalize hazing and inflict stiffer penalties on violators, as Republic Act (RA) 8049 or the Anti-Hazing Law proved to be ineffective in addressing cases of fraternity violence during initiations.

The 1976 university rules on hazing must also be revised to increase the roles and accountability of faculty advisers in organizations and allow monitoring of organizations and intiations in dormitories, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Elizabeth Enriquez said. # Philippine Collegian

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